Ainda Não vs. Não… Mais: ‘Not Yet’ or ‘No Longer’ in Portuguese
Ainda não means ‘not yet’; não faço mais or não moro mais can mean ‘I no longer do/live’ in Brazilian Portuguese.
Real Life Portuguese · 4 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
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).
Use ainda não when an expected action has not happened
A short response can stand on its own when the question supplies the context: já terminou? — ainda não. The implied action is still pending.
O ônibus ainda não chegou.
The bus hasn’t arrived yet.
Ainda não conheço o centro histórico.
I haven’t seen the historic center yet.
Você já falou com ela? Ainda não.
Have you spoken with her yet? Not yet.
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.
Ainda não trabalho aos sábados.
I don’t work Saturdays yet.
Não trabalho mais aos sábados.
I don’t work Saturdays anymore.
Ela não usa mais aquele aplicativo.
She doesn’t use that app anymore.
Put it into practice
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.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “I don’t work Saturdays anymore”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
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