How to Say “No” in Spanish: 13 Easy Phrases to Learn

Learning to say “No” in a different language can be extremely helpful, especially when traveling or interacting with people from other cultures. Saying “No” in Spanish can be difficult, especially if you just started learning Spanish and don’t know the right phrases.

Interestingly, the Spanish word 'no' is quite similar to its English equivalent, 'no' in origin and meaning, though they differ in pronunciation.

Gestures and body language can help you, but you cannot always rely on them. Fortunately, there are many different ways to say “No" in Spanish that will help you get out of many life situations.

In this article, we will explore some of the most common ways to say “No” in Spanish, including No puedo and No quiero, and much more. We’ll also cover the contexts where each phrase is most commonly used to boost your Spanish fluency. Check them out!

No puedo

One of the most common ways to say No in Spanish is No puedo. If you speak English, this phrase translates to “I can’t” and can be used when you cannot do something.

You can use this phrase in a variety of contexts, and is generally suitable for all situations. For example, you could use it if you’re unable to do something, don’t want to do something, or aren’t sure if you can do something.

If you can’t do something particular, use No puedo hacerlo. This translates to “I can’t do it“ and is a great way to decline an offer or request politely.

In a more informal and confrontational context, you might use No me da la gana to express a strong refusal or lack of desire.

No puede ser

If you want to sound a bit more sympathetic in your rejection, you can say No puede ser, which literally means “It can’t be.”

This is a way of expressing disbelief or disagreement while still being polite. It’s often used in response to hearing something outrageous or unbelievable. In a more informal context, one might use ¿Estás loco o qué? to express disbelief or refusal bluntly.

No quiero

If you don’t want to do something, you can use the phrase No quiero. This translates to “I don’t want to” and is a polite negative answer you can use to decline an offer or request.

For example, if someone offers you a snack when you’re not hungry, you can say No, gracias, no quiero.

If you don’t want anything, you can use the phrase No quiero nada. Nada is one of the most frequently used negative words in Spanish grammar.

This phrase uses a double negative, so we can translate it to English as “I don’t want anything” or “I want nothing,” as we typically use only one negative word in English to avoid confusion.

This is a great way to say “No” if someone offers you something and you’re not interested. For example, if someone asks you if you need something from the store, you could say "No, gracias, no quiero nada." If someone invites you to a party and you don't want to go, you could say "No, gracias, no quiero ir a la fiesta."

No estoy seguro

If you’re not sure about something, you can use the phrase No estoy seguro. This phrase means “I’m not sure” and is a great way to say “No” without being too forceful. It’s also a good way to buy yourself some time to make a decision.

For example, if someone asks you if you want to go to a party and you’re not sure, you could just say No estoy seguro, voy a pensarlo. If you want to firmly reject the idea, you could say Nada de eso.

No estoy interesado

If you’re not interested in something, you can use the phrase No estoy interesado. This translates to “I’m not interested” and is a straightforward way to say “No” in Spanish.

For example, imagine traveling and visiting a museum, and a tour guide asks if you want to join their group. If you’re not interested, you can use another negative word like “Bien, no estoy interesado”. You could say "Ni de broma" if you want to deny or refuse something strongly.

No sé

Alternatively, if you’re unsure about something or you don’t know how to respond to a question, you can say No sé. This translates to “I don’t know” and is a great way to decline to answer a question politely.

For example, if someone asks you for directions and you don’t know where they’re going, you could say Lo siento, no sé. If you want to admit lack of knowledge, you could say No tengo ni idea.

Voy a decir que no

If you’re going to say no, you can use the phrase Voy a decir que no. This is a nice way to warn someone that you’re about to decline their offer or request.

For example, if someone invites you to join them for something and you don’t want to do it, you could say Voy a decir que no, pero gracias por preguntar. If you want to decisively say no, you could say Ni lo pienses.

Para nada

When you want to say “No” in Spanish, Para nada* is* a great expression to use. It basically means “for nothing” or “at all,” and is often used to emphasize a negation.

When used by itself, its meaning is close to “Not at all” and it is a softer way to say “No” in Spanish. You can use this expression in a variety of contexts. For example, if someone asks if you’re satisfied with the results of your work, you can say Para nada. If you want to say no politely, you could use various expressions like 'No, gracias' or 'Lo siento, pero no.'

Alternatively, you can use a short Spanish expression Qué va, which means “No way” the same way you use Para nada.

No tengo nada que ver

If you want to say that something is not your business or none of your concern, you can use the phrase No tengo nada que ver. This translates to “I have nothing to do with it” and is a great way to politely decline to get involved in something.

For example, if someone asks you for your opinion on a situation and you don’t want to share it and get involved, you could say No tengo nada que ver, pero gracias por preguntar. The Spanish word 'no' is used similarly to its English counterpart and is essential in learning the language.

Ni se te ocurra

If you want to say “No” in a very forceful way, you can use the phrase Ni se te ocurra. This translates to "Don't even think about it" and is a great way to decline an offer or request that you're not interested in.

For example, if someone offers you a drink and you don't want one, you could say Ni se te ocurra, no.

Ni lo sueñes

If you want to say “No” in a forceful way, you can use the phrase Ni lo sueñes. This translates to “In your dreams!” which actually means that is never going to happen.

It is a great informal way to reject an offer or request that you're not interested in or find obnoxious or offensive.

For example, if someone asks you ¿Quieres salir conmigo? (Do you want to go out with me?), you can answer Gracias, pero ni lo sueñes. This means, "Thanks, but don't you even dream about it."

De ninguna manera

Suppose you want to be really definitive in your rejection. In that case, you can use the phrase De ninguna manera – ninguna is another negative word in the Spanish language that means basically “none.”

This expression translates to “No way” or “Absolutely not.” This straightforward way of saying “No” leaves little room for interpretation.

You can use it when someone asks you to do something you don't want to or strongly disagree with. However, be careful not to use this phrase too much, as it can come across as blunt and rude.

Ni hablar

If you want to refuse something resolutely, you can say Ni hablar which can be translated as “No way,” “Not a chance,” or “Forget it.”

This is a strong way of saying “No” in Spanish and should only be used when you really don't want to do something or strongly disagree with something.

Summary

Let’s summarize all of these useful phrases, so you have them together at hand:

The Bottom Line

As you can see, Spanish speakers use plenty of negative words and phrases to express negation. If you're ever in a situation where you need to say “No” in Spanish, the phrases we've listed above will help get your point across.

Each phrase, as it happens with greetings, is suitable for different contexts and can be used to reject anything from something you simply cannot do to an outrageous request. Just make sure not to overuse these phrases, which can be rude if used too often.

Also, if you're looking for extra ways to learn even more phrases in Spanish, why not download our Langster app? This way, you'll learn and practice proper Spanish phrasing and expand your vocabulary most engagingly. Good luck!