não ter pressa

Grammatically, this phrase is a breeze. You use the verb ter (to have) followed by the negative não and the noun pressa (hurry/rush). Because it uses ter, you need to conjugate it to match the person speaking. For example, eu não tenho pressa (I'm in no hurry) or nós não temos pressa (we're in no hurry). You can use it as a standalone answer when someone asks if they should rush, or you can follow it with the preposition de and an infinitive verb to specify what you aren't rushing to do. For instance, não tenho pressa de ir embora means 'I'm in no hurry to leave.' Just remember: don't try to use the verb estar (to be) here. Saying não estou pressa sounds like you’re trying to say you aren’t the literal concept of speed, which is a bit too philosophical for a Tuesday afternoon.

You’re texting a friend about meeting up. They reply, 'Sorry, I’m running 10 minutes late!' You hit them back with: Fica tranquilo, não tenho pressa. It’s the perfect way to lower the social pressure. Or imagine you're at a restaurant and the waiter is apologetic because the 'bacalhau' is taking a while. You smile and say, Não temos pressa, o vinho está ótimo. (We’re in no rush, the wine is great). In the world of dating, if things are going well but you want to keep the pace healthy, you might tell someone, Quero te conhecer melhor, não tenho pressa. It’s romantic, grounded, and shows you’re actually interested in the person, not just a quick result. It’s also a frequent star in Instagram captions for vacation photos—usually featuring a sunset and a cold drink.

This is your go-to phrase for almost any social interaction where time is a factor. Use it when you want to be polite to someone who is apologizing for being slow. Use it when you are genuinely enjoying a moment and don't want it to end. It’s also great for professional settings when you want to signal that quality is more important than speed. If a colleague asks for a report, saying Não tenho pressa, prefiro que fique bem feito (I’m in no rush, I prefer it to be well done) makes you look like a thoughtful leader. It’s a very 'high-vibe' phrase that projects confidence. If you’re at a slow-moving government office (which happens!), using this phrase might actually help lower the tension for the stressed worker behind the desk.

Don't use não ter pressa when there is a literal fire. If someone asks, 'Should I call the ambulance?' and you say não tenho pressa, you’ve gone from 'relaxed' to 'concerningly detached from reality.' Also, avoid using it sarcastically to someone who is actually being incredibly slow on purpose—that can come off as passive-aggressive. In high-stakes emergency situations, or when a deadline is actually critical (like catching a flight), this phrase is out of place. If your Uber driver is crawling at 10km/h on the highway, saying não tenho pressa might encourage them to stop for a snack, which you probably don't want. Use your judgment; it’s a phrase for leisure and patience, not for life-or-death urgency.

The biggest trap for English speakers is trying to translate 'to be in a hurry' literally.

• ✗ Não estou pressa → ✓ Não tenho pressa.

Another mistake is mixing up pressa (hurry) with precisa (needs). Saying não tenho precisa is just gibberish. Also, be careful with the preposition. It’s always pressa de followed by an action, never pressa para (though you might hear para in some informal contexts, de is the gold standard).

• ✗ Não tenho pressa para comer → ✓ Não tenho pressa de comer.

Finally, don't confuse pressa with praça (square/plaza). Telling a waiter you 'don't have a plaza' will lead to a very confusing conversation about urban planning instead of your dinner.

If you want to vary your vocabulary, you can use ir com calma (to go with calm/take it easy). This is more of an instruction to yourself or others to proceed slowly. Another great one is levar na boa, which is very informal and means to take things in a good, relaxed way. If you’re feeling extra Brazilian, you might say ficar de boa, which is basically the peak of relaxation. For a more formal vibe, you could use não há urgência (there is no urgency), though that sounds a bit more like a corporate email than a friendly chat. Sem pressa is a shorter, punchier version often used in texts or as a quick reassurance.

You’ll often see this phrase turned into a command or a suggestion: Não tenha pressa (Don't be in a hurry/Take your time). It’s what you say to a guest who is trying to leave your house too quickly because they think they’re bothering you. In Brazil, you might hear the diminutive não tenho pressinha, though that’s usually slightly ironic or very cute. You can also intensify it: Não tenho a menor pressa (I don't have the slightest hurry). This is the 'pro' version for when you really want to emphasize that you could sit there all day. It’s the verbal equivalent of putting your feet up on the ottoman.

Is it formal or informal? It’s both! It depends on how you conjugate ter. Can I use it at work? Absolutely, it shows you value quality over haste. Does it sound lazy? No, it sounds patient and composed. Is there a difference between Portugal and Brazil? Not in meaning, but the accent will change the 's' sound at the end of pressa (in Lisbon it’s a bit 'shh', in São Paulo it’s a crisp 'ss'). Is it only for time? Mostly, but it can also refer to the pace of a relationship or a project.