Já vs. Ainda: Talk About “Already,” “Still,” and “Yet” in Portuguese
A practical guide to two small words that change how a Brazilian Portuguese sentence relates to time and expectation.
Real Life Portuguese · 5 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
Já often maps to “already,” but context matters. In a question, it can ask whether something has happened yet: “Você já almoçou?” means “Have you eaten yet?” In a statement, it can mean that it has happened: “Eu já almocei” means “I’ve already eaten.”
Use já for something that has happened or is happening now
You will also hear já with the sense of “now” or “in a moment,” especially in short replies. For example, “Já vou” means “I’m coming” or “I’ll be right there,” depending on the situation.
Você já viu esse filme?
Have you seen this movie yet?
Já terminei o trabalho.
I’ve already finished the work.
Espera um minuto; já vou.
Wait a minute; I’m coming.
Use ainda for something that continues or has not happened
Ainda can mean “still” when a situation continues: “Ela ainda mora aqui” means “She still lives here.” With não, it often means “not yet”: “Eu ainda não sei” means “I don’t know yet.”
The placement is straightforward in these examples: ainda commonly appears before the verb, and ainda não appears before it when you mean that something has not happened up to now.
A loja ainda está aberta.
The store is still open.
A gente ainda não decidiu.
We haven’t decided yet.
Você ainda quer café?
Do you still want coffee?
Use the timeline to choose
Ask yourself whether you are checking if something has happened, saying it has happened, or describing a situation that continues. Já is common in the first two patterns; ainda is common for the continuing or not-yet patterns.
English does not map one-to-one here. A question with já may translate with “yet,” while a reply with já may translate with “already.” Learn the full sentence and situation together rather than memorizing one English equivalent per word.
- Checking: Você já chegou? — Have you arrived yet?
- Completed: Já cheguei. — I’ve already arrived.
- Continuing: Ainda estou no ônibus. — I’m still on the bus.
- Not completed: Ainda não cheguei. — I haven’t arrived yet.
Put it into practice
Practice the four patterns as a short back-and-forth. Hearing the question and response together makes the contrast easier to recall in conversation.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “We haven’t decided yet”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
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