Sometimes schon doesn't mean anything at all - at least not anything that can be simply translated by a single English word. (It may add emphasis, indicate impatience, or just be a filler.) But in general the German word schon has over a dozen different meanings - in German or English. Translated into English, schon can become any of these English words: already, as early as, before, even, just, now, okay, quite, really, very, yes-but, yet. Let's look at the many meanings of schon.

Hier, auf der Deutschland-Seite bei about.com. Spätestens nach dem schmählichen Scheitern von meome u.ä. hierzulande glaube ich, dass der Riesen-Erfolg von about.com in den USA etwas sehr Amerika-Typisches ist: community self help spirit im großen Maßstab. Was ich aber eigentlich sagen wollte: Der für Deutschland zuständige Guide heißt Hyde Flippo. Cool, nicht?

Your Guide taught German for 28 years at the high school and community college levels. Technically, he retired in 1996, but he is still teaching - now on the Web.