Italian Phrase
Ancora no, mi sto solo rilassando.
Meaning
Literally, 'Not yet, I'm just relaxing.' The speaker is indicating that they are not ready for something because they are currently taking it easy.
When to use
Use this informal phrase when someone asks if you’re ready to go, start a task, or join an activity, and you want to politely say you need a bit more time to unwind.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ancorano,mistosolorilassando.
Ancora (adverb)
Used to mean 'still' or 'not yet' when placed before a negative response.
no (interjection)
A short, informal way to say 'no' or 'not yet' in conversation.
mi sto + gerundio (present progressive)
The reflexive verb ‘stare’ + gerund forms the present progressive, indicating an ongoing action.
solo (adverb)
Means 'only' or 'just' and modifies the verb phrase that follows.
rilassare → rilassando (gerund)
The gerund of ‘rilassare’ (to relax) expresses the action in progress.
🗨In Conversation
Sei pronto per uscire?
Are you ready to go out?
Ancora no, mi sto solo rilassando.
Not yet, I'm just relaxing.
✕Common Mistakes
Non ancora, mi sto solo rilassando.
‘Non ancora’ is correct but sounds more formal; in casual speech Italians prefer ‘Ancora no’.
Ancora no, mi rilassando.
The auxiliary ‘sto’ is required for the progressive tense.
Ancora no, solo mi sto rilassando.
‘Solo’ should modify the verb phrase, not the subject; place it after ‘sto’.
↔Alternatives
Non ancora, sto solo rilassandomi.
Not yet, I'm just relaxing.
Ancora non, mi sto rilassando.
Not yet, I'm relaxing.
Aspetto ancora, mi sto solo rilassando.
I'm still waiting, I'm just relaxing.
Cultural Tip
Italians often value a relaxed pace, especially after work or a busy day. Saying “Ancora no, mi sto solo rilassando” signals that you’re taking a moment for yourself, which is socially acceptable in informal settings. Avoid using it in formal contexts; a more polite version would be “Non sono ancora pronto, sto ancora rilassandomi.”