Ainda Não vs. Não… Mais: ‘Not Yet’ or ‘No Longer’ in Portuguese — Practice

Use ainda não when an expected action has not happened

Ainda não keeps the possibility open: the event has not happened up to now, but it may happen later. In English, this is often ‘not yet’ or a present-perfect negative. The phrase is followed by the verb: ainda não chegou (hasn’t arrived yet), ainda não comi (I haven’t eaten yet).

A short response can stand on its own when the question supplies the context: já terminou? — ainda não. The implied action is still pending.

Use não… mais for something that has stopped

In Brazilian Portuguese, não… mais commonly means that an action or state does not continue: não moro mais lá (I don’t live there anymore). Mais follows the verb or the phrase it affects. English speakers may translate the idea as ‘no longer’ or ‘not anymore.’

Some contexts use já não, especially in more formal or literary phrasing, but não… mais is a useful everyday pattern. Contrast status, not merely the verb tense: the first example below says the person has not arrived so far; the second says they have stopped arriving late.

Remember: Use ainda não when something is pending; use não… mais when a previous action or state has ended. Ask whether it may happen later or has stopped happening.

Check your understanding

Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.

Recall the Portuguese, then say it

Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.

1. The bus hasn’t arrived yet.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   O ônibus ainda não chegou.

2. I haven’t seen the historic center yet.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Ainda não conheço o centro histórico.

3. Have you spoken with her yet? Not yet.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Você já falou com ela? Ainda não.

4. I don’t work Saturdays yet.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Ainda não trabalho aos sábados.

5. I don’t work Saturdays anymore.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Não trabalho mais aos sábados.

6. She doesn’t use that app anymore.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Ela não usa mais aquele aplicativo.

Make the phrase useful to you

Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.

Use ainda não when something is pending; use não… mais when a previous action or state has ended. Ask whether it may happen later or has stopped happening.

Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.

Sources and your next lesson

This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our Ainda Não vs. Não… Mais: ‘Not Yet’ or ‘No Longer’ in Portuguese lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.

To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.