по-прежнему vs до сих пор
po-prezhnemu vs do sikh por — still/as before vs still/up to now
Register: neutral
What it really means
По-прежнему means still, as before, or in the same way as earlier; it compares the current state with an established past state. До сих пор means until now/still up to this point and emphasizes persistence from the past into the present, often with surprise or an expected change.
They can overlap in positive statements, but до сих пор is especially common with negatives: до сих пор не пришёл.
Examples in natural speech
Она по-прежнему живёт здесь.
She still lives here, as before.
Мы по-прежнему друзья.
We are still friends.
Он до сих пор не ответил.
He still has not replied.
Я до сих пор помню этот день.
I still remember that day.
По-прежнему холодно.
It is still cold, as before.
Common mistakes
Do not write по прежнему when the adverb means “as before”; it is hyphenated: по-прежнему. До сих пор focuses on the timeline to now, not merely sameness of manner.
Memory tip
По-прежнему means “in the former way”; до сих пор means “up to this moment.”
Frequently asked questions
How do I say still has not arrived?
До сих пор не пришёл.
Is по-прежнему hyphenated?
Yes, as an adverb meaning as before.
Which one stresses continuity to now?
До сих пор.
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