Portuguese Phrase
Ainda não, tomei café tarde.
Meaning
Literally: 'Not yet, I drank coffee late.' It is a short reply used when someone asks whether you have already had coffee. The speaker is saying they have, but only after a late hour.
When to use
Use this sentence after being asked something like 'Já tomou café?' (Did you have coffee?) or when explaining why you are still a bit sleepy because you only had coffee later than usual.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Aindanão,tomeicafétarde.
Ainda
Used to mean 'still' or 'yet' when combined with a negative, indicating something has not happened up to now.
não
Standard negation word placed before the verb.
tomei
First‑person singular preterite of the verb *tomar* (to take/drink).
café
Noun meaning coffee; in Brazil coffee is usually taken black or with milk.
tarde
Adverb of time meaning 'late' (when the action occurred).
🗨In Conversation
Já tomou café?
Did you have coffee yet?
Ainda não, tomei café tarde.
Not yet, I had coffee late.
✕Common Mistakes
Ainda não, tarde tomei café.
The adverb *tarde* should follow the verb phrase, not be placed before the verb; the correct order is "tomei café tarde".
Ainda não tomei café tarde.
In spoken Portuguese a pause (comma) is natural, but beginners often forget the pause and say it too fast, making the negation unclear.
↔Alternatives
Ainda não, já tomei café.
Not yet, I already had coffee.
Ainda não, bebi café mais tarde.
Not yet, I drank coffee later.
Ainda não, tomei café só agora.
Not yet, I just had coffee.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil coffee is a daily ritual, often taken multiple times a day. Saying you "tomei café tarde" can imply you broke your usual routine, which may explain lingering tiredness. The phrase is informal; in a formal setting you might replace the comma with a conjunction, e.g., "Ainda não, pois tomei café tarde."