Italian Phrase
Ancora no, ma voglio.
Meaning
Literally, 'Not yet, but I want (it)'. The speaker is saying that the moment isn’t right or the thing isn’t allowed yet, but they still have a desire for it. It’s a friendly, informal way to express a postponed wish.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to politely decline something for the moment while still showing interest—e.g., refusing a drink now but saying you’d like one later, or turning down a plan but hinting you’d love to join another time.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ancorano,mavoglio.
Ancora
Means 'still' or 'yet' and is used to indicate that something has not happened up to this point.
no
A short, informal way to say 'no' in spoken Italian; it can replace the full negative phrase 'non è ancora il momento'.
ma
Coordinating conjunction meaning 'but', used to contrast two clauses.
voglio
First‑person singular of the verb *volere* (to want). In informal speech the final *e* is often pronounced like a soft *ʝ*.
🗨In Conversation
Vuoi un caffè?
Do you want a coffee?
Ancora no, ma voglio.
Not yet, but I want one.
✕Common Mistakes
Non ancora, ma voglio.
While *non ancora* is grammatically correct, it sounds more formal; the idiomatic spoken version is *ancora no*.
Ancora no, ma voglio di.
The verb *volere* does not need a preposition before the object; just say *voglio* + noun or *voglio farlo*.
Ancora no, però voglio.
Using *però* is possible, but it changes the rhythm; *ma* is the more natural connector in this short phrase.
↔Alternatives
Non ancora, ma lo desidero.
Not yet, but I desire it.
Aspetto ancora, però mi piacerebbe.
I’ll wait a bit more, but I’d like it.
Per ora no, ma mi va.
For now no, but I’m up for it.
Cultural Tip
In Italy, saying *ancora no* is more casual than the full *non è ancora il momento*. It’s common among friends, but in formal settings you’d use a more complete sentence. Also, Italians often add a smile or a light tone to show the refusal is not a rejection, just a postponement.