Introduction
Learning how to say not yet in Spanish is a small but useful step for beginners. This article explains common ways to reply with not yet in everyday situations, gives short vocabulary lists, shows sample dialogues, and warns about typical beginner mistakes. All Spanish examples use standard Latin American Spanish suitable for travelers and learners.
Why knowing how to say not yet matters
In English not yet is essential for delaying, postponing, or saying something is incomplete. In Spanish there are several simple options that beginners should learn because they appear in conversations, messages, signs, and schedules. Mastering these options helps you respond politely and clearly in shops, restaurants, classes, and daily chats.
Basic Spanish expressions that mean not yet
Common single-word reply:
aún – Often used with verbs to mean still or not yet.
todavía – Very common in Latin America; interchangeable with aún in most cases.
Short phrases to say not yet:
No aún – Less common, often people say aún no.
Aún no – The most natural order: roughly = not yet.
Todavía no – Also very common and interchangeable with aún no.
Complete short replies:
No, todavía no.
Aún no, lo siento.
No, aún no he terminado.
How to use aún and todavía
Placement and basic structure:
Aún no and todavía no normally precede or follow the verb or clause depending on emphasis. For beginners, use the simple pattern Aún no + verb or Todavía no + verb.
Example: Aún no llego.
Example: Todavía no está listo.
Key beginner tip: Use Aún no and Todavía no with a verb to indicate the action has not happened yet. You can also use them as short answers without the verb when the context is clear.
Short dialogues: everyday situations
At a coffee shop:
Barista: ¿Tu bebida?
Customer: Aún no.
At a restaurant waiting for food:
Camarero: ¿Está listo para ordenar?
Cliente: Todavía no, necesito un minuto.
With a friend about plans:
Amigo: ¿Ya compraste los boletos?
Tú: No, todavía no.
In class or study context:
Profesor: ¿Terminaste la tarea?
Estudiante: Aún no, la haré más tarde.
Longer phrases and polite ways to say not yet
Polite phrases for service or work:
Lo siento, aún no está listo. – Use to apologize and delay politely.
Todavía no tengo la información. – Useful when you need to explain you lack details.
No he terminado todavía. – A polite, slightly more formal way to say you are still working on something.
Casual short replies for friends:
Aún no, dame cinco minutos. – Tell a friend you need five minutes.
Todavía no, estoy en camino. – Use when you are on your way but not there yet.
Using not yet in text messages and signs
Beginners often need brief replies in messages. Keep replies short and natural.
Example text replies:
Aún no. – Short and clear.
Todavía no, salgo pronto. – Adds small detail.
No aún. – Less common, avoid this order until you are comfortable.
Common sign or form usage:
Servicio no disponible todavía. – Seen on temporary closures or unavailable features.
Apertura: aún por confirmar. – Useful on event or schedule notices.
How to form negative replies with verbs
Present perfect and simple present:
No he llegado todavía. – I have not arrived yet. Use present perfect for actions relevant to now.
No llego aún. – I haven’t arrived yet (simple present used in conversational Spanish).
Negative imperative or requests:
No hagas eso todavía. – Don’t do that yet. Use to instruct someone to wait.
Espera, todavía no. – Wait, not yet. Simple command for friends or informal contexts.
Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them
Mistake 1: Mixing order incorrectly
Beginners sometimes say no aún. This is grammatically possible but sounds unusual in everyday Latin American Spanish. Prefer Aún no or Todavía no.
Mistake 2: Using yet instead of todavía in questions
In English learners often translate yet directly. In Spanish, use todavía in questions like: ¿Todavía no llegas? not ¿No llegas todavía? Both work, but the first is more neutral for beginners.
Mistake 3: Forgetting agreement with verb tense
When using Aún no with compound tenses, remember to conjugate properly: Aún no he comido, not Aún no comido.
Practice exercises for beginners
Fill-in-the-blank exercises help reinforce correct usage. Try these with an instructor or self-study.
1) ______ no puedo ir, tengo que trabajar. (Answer: Todavía)
2) ¿Ya comiste? ______ no. (Answer: Aún)
3) No ______ terminado el informe. (Answer: he)
4) Espera, ______ no es el momento. (Answer: aún / todavía)
Role-play ideas to practice not yet
Practice simple role plays with a partner or language app. Keep them short and realistic.
Scenario 1: At the bakery. One person asks if the bread is ready; the other replies Aún no, sale en diez minutos.
Scenario 2: Meeting a friend. Friend asks if you left home; reply Todavía no, estoy preparando algo.
Scenario 3: Customer service. Customer asks about a delivery; reply Lo siento, todavía no ha llegado el paquete.
Additional vocabulary related to not yet
Time and delay words:
Pronto – soon
Más tarde – later
En breve – shortly
Ahora no – not now
Action words often paired with aún/todavía:
Llegar – llegar tarde or no llegar todavía
Terminar – no terminar todavía
Estar listo – aún no está listo
Salir – todavía no ha salido
Quick cheat sheet: short replies you can memorize
Todavía no. – Not yet.
Aún no. – Not yet.
No, todavía no. – No, not yet.
No he terminado todavía. – I haven’t finished yet.
Lo siento, aún no está listo. – Sorry, it’s not ready yet.
Conclusion
Mastering not yet in Spanish is easy with a few key words and patterns. Use todavía and aún plus a verb for complete replies, prefer Aún no or Todavía no as short answers, and practice with simple dialogues and messages. These phrases appear daily in shops, messages, and conversations, so learning them will quickly boost your practical Spanish skills.
