How to Say “I’m still deciding” in Spanish

Introduction

When learning Spanish, expressing indecision is a practical skill you’ll use frequently in everyday conversations. Whether you’re at a restaurant choosing between dishes, shopping for the perfect gift, or weighing important life choices, knowing how to say you’re still deciding helps you navigate real-world situations with confidence and politeness.

The Most Common Way to Say I’m Still Deciding

The most straightforward translation for I’m still deciding in Spanish is todavía estoy decidiendo. This phrase works in nearly any context and is understood across all Spanish-speaking countries. The word todavía means still or yet, estoy is the first-person present tense of the verb to be, and decidiendo is the gerund form of the verb to decide.

You can use this phrase when a waiter asks if you’re ready to order:
Waiter: ¿Ya saben qué van a ordenar?
You: Todavía estoy decidiendo, gracias.

This construction follows the present progressive tense pattern in Spanish, which mirrors the English present continuous. Just as we say I am deciding in English, Spanish speakers say estoy decidiendo to indicate an ongoing action happening right now.

Alternative Phrases for Expressing Indecision

Spanish offers numerous ways to express that you haven’t made up your mind yet. Each variation carries slightly different nuances and levels of formality.

Aún No He Decidido

Aún no he decidido translates to I haven’t decided yet. This phrase uses the present perfect tense, which emphasizes that the decision-making process started in the past but isn’t complete. The word aún is a synonym for todavía, and both mean still or yet. The phrase no he decidido means I haven’t decided.

This expression sounds slightly more formal than todavía estoy decidiendo and works well in professional settings or when discussing more serious matters.

Todavía No Sé

Todavía no sé means I still don’t know and offers a simpler alternative when you want to keep things casual. This phrase is extremely common in everyday Spanish and feels natural in informal conversations with friends or family.

Example conversation:
Friend: ¿Vas a venir a la fiesta el sábado?
You: Todavía no sé, te confirmo mañana.

Estoy Pensándolo

Estoy pensándolo translates to I’m thinking about it. This phrase shifts the focus from deciding to contemplating, suggesting you’re actively considering your options. The verb pensar means to think, and the -lo at the end is a direct object pronoun meaning it.

This expression works particularly well when someone has made you an offer or proposal that requires consideration.

Regional Variations and Colloquial Expressions

Different Spanish-speaking regions have developed their own colorful ways to express indecision. Understanding these variations helps you sound more natural and connect better with native speakers from specific areas.

Latin American Expressions

In Mexico and parts of Central America, you might hear ando pensando instead of estoy pensando. The verb andar literally means to walk, but it’s commonly used as a substitute for estar in progressive constructions, adding a casual, colloquial flavor.

In the Caribbean and some South American countries, estoy en eso (literally I’m on that) serves as a shorthand for saying you’re working on making a decision. This brief phrase conveys that you’re in the process without spelling everything out.

Spanish from Spain

In Spain, you’ll frequently hear me lo estoy pensando, which includes the reflexive pronoun me before the direct object lo. While estoy pensándolo is also used, the version with me is more common in Peninsular Spanish and adds a sense of personal deliberation.

Spaniards might also say no lo tengo claro, meaning I don’t have it clear or I’m not sure about it. This expression is useful when you want to indicate uncertainty rather than active decision-making.

Polite Ways to Express Indecision

When you need to communicate that you’re still deciding while maintaining politeness, Spanish offers several courteous options that soften your indecision.

Adding Courteous Phrases

Déjame pensarlo means let me think about it and politely requests time to consider your options. You can make this even more courteous by adding por favor: Déjame pensarlo, por favor.

Another polite construction is necesito pensarlo un poco más, which translates to I need to think about it a little more. The phrase un poco más (a little more) softens your response and suggests you’re close to a decision but need just a bit more time.

Professional and Formal Contexts

In business situations or formal settings, you might use me gustaría pensarlo con calma, meaning I would like to think about it calmly. This phrase demonstrates thoughtfulness and seriousness about the decision at hand.

For very formal contexts, necesito tiempo para considerar mis opciones (I need time to consider my options) communicates professionalism while maintaining appropriate boundaries.

Common Contexts and Practical Examples

Understanding when and how to use these phrases in real situations helps you apply them naturally in your Spanish conversations.

At Restaurants and Cafés

When dining out, you’ll often need to express that you’re still choosing from the menu. Common phrases include:
Todavía estoy decidiendo, ¿me da un minuto más?
Todavía no sé qué voy a pedir.
Estoy pensándolo, regrese en un momento.

Shopping Situations

When a sales associate asks if you need help or if you’ve made a choice, you can respond:
Gracias, estoy pensándolo.
Todavía no he decidido cuál me gusta más.
Me lo estoy pensando, vuelvo más tarde.

Making Plans with Friends

Social situations often require flexibility while you weigh your options:
¿Vienes al cine esta noche? – Todavía no sé, tengo mucho trabajo.
¿Ya decidiste si vas a la playa? – Aún no he decidido, te aviso pronto.

Understanding the Verbs: Decidir vs Pensar

The verbs decidir (to decide) and pensar (to think) form the backbone of these expressions, and understanding their conjugations helps you use them correctly.

The verb decidir is a regular -ir verb. In the present progressive, you use estoy decidiendo (I am deciding). In the present perfect, it becomes he decidido (I have decided). The negative form no he decidido means I haven’t decided.

The verb pensar is a stem-changing e→ie verb, though this doesn’t affect the gerund form. You say estoy pensando or estoy pensándolo when you want to express ongoing thought about something specific.

Tips for Sounding More Natural

To sound more like a native speaker when expressing indecision, consider these practical tips that go beyond literal translation.

First, don’t be afraid to combine phrases. Native speakers often string together multiple expressions: Todavía no sé, me lo estoy pensando. This combination reinforces your message naturally.

Second, pay attention to intonation. Spanish speakers often use a rising intonation when expressing uncertainty, which adds authenticity to your delivery.

Third, learn appropriate follow-up phrases. After expressing indecision, you might add time frames like te aviso en una hora (I’ll let you know in an hour) or te confirmo mañana (I’ll confirm tomorrow). These additions make your indecision sound temporary and respectful of others’ time.

Finally, observe how native speakers in your target region express indecision. Regional preferences matter, and matching local usage helps you integrate more smoothly into conversations.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

English speakers learning Spanish often make predictable errors when trying to express indecision. Being aware of these pitfalls helps you avoid them.

One common mistake is literal translation. While todavía estoy decidiendo works, saying something like estoy todavía decidiendo sounds unnatural because adverbs of time typically come before the verb in Spanish.

Another error involves pronoun placement. Remember that with gerunds, pronouns can attach to the end, as in estoy pensándolo, or come before the conjugated verb, as in lo estoy pensando. Both are correct, but don’t split them up incorrectly.

Avoid overusing the verb decidir when simpler expressions would sound more natural. Native speakers often prefer todavía no sé in casual contexts over the more formal-sounding todavía estoy decidiendo.

Conclusion

Mastering how to express indecision in Spanish opens doors to more authentic, comfortable conversations in countless everyday situations. From the versatile todavía estoy decidiendo to regional variations like me lo estoy pensando, you now have multiple tools to communicate that you need more time to choose. Practice these phrases in context, pay attention to how native speakers use them, and remember that expressing uncertainty politely is a valuable communication skill in any language.