Sem Pressa vs. Sem Correr: Say ‘No Rush’ in Portuguese — Practice

Use sem pressa to remove urgency

Sem pressa literally means ‘without hurry’ and is a natural way to say ‘no rush.’ It can stand alone or follow an instruction. Add por favor if the exchange needs a more courteous tone, especially with someone you do not know well.

In a work setting, sem urgência labels a task as non-urgent. It is useful in a message or task note, while sem pressa sounds relaxed in everyday conversation.

Use com calma to reassure someone

Pode fazer com calma means ‘you can take your time’ or ‘you can do it carefully.’ Com calma focuses on not needing to rush and can also suggest acting carefully. Context tells you which meaning is intended.

If there is a real deadline, include it so the other person does not infer that there is unlimited time. A friendly no-rush message can still say when you need the answer.

Remember: Sem pressa says there is no hurry. Com calma reassures someone they can take their time or act carefully; add a deadline when one matters.

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. You can reply tomorrow; no rush.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Pode responder amanhã, sem pressa.

2. No rush, please. I’m not late.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Sem pressa, por favor. Não estou atrasado.

3. This request is not urgent.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Este pedido é sem urgência.

4. You can fill out the form at your own pace.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Pode preencher o formulário com calma.

5. Take your time; we have until Friday.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Faz com calma; temos até sexta-feira.

6. Read the instructions carefully before starting.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Leia as instruções com calma antes de começar.

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.

Sem pressa says there is no hurry. Com calma reassures someone they can take their time or act carefully; add a deadline when one matters.

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 Sem Pressa vs. Sem Correr: Say ‘No Rush’ 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.