Sem Pressa vs. Sem Correr: Say ‘No Rush’ in Portuguese
Sem pressa is the direct everyday way to say ‘no rush’; pode fazer com calma adds a reassuring ‘take your time.’
Real Life Portuguese · 5 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
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.
Use sem pressa to remove urgency
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.
Pode responder amanhã, sem pressa.
You can reply tomorrow; no rush.
Sem pressa, por favor. Não estou atrasado.
No rush, please. I’m not late.
Este pedido é sem urgência.
This request is not urgent.
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.
Pode preencher o formulário com calma.
You can fill out the form at your own pace.
Faz com calma; temos até sexta-feira.
Take your time; we have until Friday.
Leia as instruções com calma antes de começar.
Read the instructions carefully before starting.
Put it into practice
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.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “Read the instructions carefully before starting”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
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