Spanish Phrase
Todavía no, desayuné tarde.
Meaning
The speaker is saying that something hasn't happened yet because they ate breakfast late. It can be used to explain why they are still not ready for something, like going out or starting work.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to politely decline or postpone an invitation, activity, or request, citing that you had a late breakfast and therefore haven't had time to do something else yet.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Todavíano,desayunétarde.
Todavía no
A common phrase meaning "not yet"; it combines the adverb "todavía" (still) with the negative particle "no".
Preterite of desayunar
"Desayuné" is the first‑person singular preterite of "desayunar" (to have breakfast).
Adverb "tarde"
"Tarde" placed after the verb indicates the action happened late in the morning.
🗨In Conversation
¿Quieres ir al gimnasio ahora?
Do you want to go to the gym now?
Todavía no, desayuné tarde.
Not yet, I had breakfast late.
✕Common Mistakes
Todavía sí, desayuné tarde.
Use "todavía no" for a negative response; "todavía sí" would mean "still yes" which is contradictory.
Todavía no, desayuné tardío.
"tardío" is an adjective; you need the adverb "tarde" after the verb.
Todavía no, desayuné tardé.
"tardé" is a verb form meaning "I delayed"; the correct adverb is "tarde".
↔Alternatives
Aún no, comí el desayuno tarde.
Not yet, I ate breakfast late.
Todavía no, me desperté tarde y desayuné después.
Not yet, I woke up late and had breakfast afterwards.
No todavía, desayuné tarde.
Not yet, I had breakfast late.
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries breakfast is usually light and early. Mentioning that you ate "desayuné tarde" signals that your morning routine was delayed, which is a common, informal excuse for not being ready for later plans.