Portuguese Phrase
Ainda não, mas quero.
Meaning
The speaker is saying that something hasn't happened yet, but they have the desire to do it. It’s a concise way to acknowledge the current state while expressing future intent.
When to use
Use this sentence when someone asks if you have already done something (bought a ticket, finished a task, etc.) and you want to admit you haven’t yet, but you definitely want to.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Aindanãomasquero
Ainda
Adverb meaning 'still' or 'yet', placed before the verb or negation.
não
Standard negation particle; it precedes the verb it negates.
mas
Coordinating conjunction meaning 'but', used to contrast two clauses.
quero
First‑person singular present of the verb querer ‘to want’; often used to express desire or intention.
🗨In Conversation
Já comprou o ingresso para o show?
Did you already buy the ticket for the concert?
Ainda não, mas quero.
Not yet, but I want to.
✕Common Mistakes
Não ainda, mas quero.
The adverb ‘ainda’ must come before the negation ‘não’, not after it.
Ainda não, mas eu quero.
Adding the subject pronoun ‘eu’ is redundant in Portuguese unless you need emphasis.
Ainda não, mas quero fazer isso.
While grammatically correct, the phrase becomes overly long; keep it short for natural speech.
↔Alternatives
Ainda não, mas pretendo.
Not yet, but I intend to.
Ainda não, mas estou interessado.
Not yet, but I’m interested.
Ainda não, mas gostaria.
Not yet, but I would like to.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil and Portugal, saying “quero” is perfectly natural in informal conversation, but in more formal contexts you might soften it with “gostaria” or “pretendo” to sound more polite. Also, the pause after the comma is important – it signals the contrast introduced by “mas”.