Italian Phrase
Ancora no? È buono?
Meaning
Literally “Not yet? Is it good?” It’s a quick way to check whether something that was expected is ready and whether it meets the speaker’s standards, often about food, a project, or a decision.
When to use
Use this phrase when you’re waiting for something to be finished or served and you want to confirm both its completion and its quality, e.g., at a café, in a workshop, or while reviewing a draft.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ancorano?Èbuono?
Ancora
Means “still” or “again”; used here to ask if something has happened yet.
no (interrogative)
A short negative interrogative meaning “not yet?”; it replaces “non ancora”.
È
Third‑person singular present of the verb “essere” (to be).
buono
Masculine singular adjective meaning “good”; agrees with a masculine noun (e.g., “il caffè”).
🗨In Conversation
Ancora no? È buono?
Not yet? Is it good?
Sì, è pronto e molto buono!
Yes, it’s ready and very good!
✕Common Mistakes
Ancora non? È buono?
While correct, using the full form sounds more formal; the short “no?” is the natural spoken version.
Ancora no? È buona?
Use the masculine form “buono” unless the noun you’re referring to is feminine (e.g., “la pizza è buona”).
Ancora no? È che buono?
Don’t add an extra “che” (e.g., “è che buono?”) – it’s ungrammatical.
↔Alternatives
Non ancora? È buono?
Not yet? Is it good?
È pronto? È buono?
Is it ready? Is it good?
È già pronto? È buono?
Is it ready already? Is it good?
Cultural Tip
In Italian, “buono” can refer to taste, quality, or moral goodness. When talking about food, it’s the go‑to adjective, but for abstract things you might prefer “buono” (e.g., “un’idea buona”). Also, the short “no?” as a question is informal and common in spoken Italian; in formal writing you’d use “non ancora?”.