間(ま)もなく

間(ま)もなく means "soon" or "shortly"—more formal than もうすぐ.

SIMILAR WORDS:

• 間(ま)もなく: soon, shortly (formal)
• もうすぐ: soon (casual)
• すぐ: immediately, right away
• そのうち: before long, sometime (vague)

COMMON CONTEXTS:

Often heard in public announcements:

• 間(ま)もなく電車(でんしゃ)が参(まい)ります (The train will arrive shortly)
• 間(ま)もなく開演(かいえん)です (The show will begin shortly)

ETYMOLOGY:
Literally "without interval" (間(ま) = interval + もなく = without).