How To Say Deny In Spanish

How to Say 'No' in Spanish: Formal and Informal Expressions

Practise y'all know how to say "no" in Spanish in a polite style?

Information technology'due south non necessarily easy to say "no" in Spanish or any other language. Being assertive is a skill that takes practice. Of course, you don't want to be rude or offensive.

Keep reading to learn how to say "no" in Castilian politely and colloquially. I'll testify yous many useful expressions for turning things downwards or denying what other people say.

23 Ways to Say 'No' in Spanish

In Latin America, people are so polite that quite often they say "yes" when they actually mean "no." But, this attribute of the culture is another topic.

For today, allow me show you how to say "no" in Spanish in a polite manner and as well in more than informal or colloquial ways.

1. No

Okay, this 1 looks pretty like to the English language word, simply the pronunciation is different. It's a short /no/ not a diphthong /noʊ/. You can hear the Spanish pronunciation hither. It's a bit of a edgeless way to say "no"—but a valid one.

—¿Lo quieres?
—No.

—Do you desire it?
—No.

2. No gracias – No, cheers

How do you say "no" in Castilian without sounding offensive? No gracias. It'south the aforementioned as the expression above, only much more polite.

—¿Lo quieres?
—No, gracias.

—Do y'all desire it?
—No, thank you.

3. Nop – Nope

To say "no" in Spanish in a super informal way, use this expression. It works the aforementioned way every bit the English language "nope" merely one time again, make it a brusque /o/ instead of the English diphthong.

Information technology's okay to utilise with friends, but if you say it to your instructor, for example, you might audio a bit impolite.

—¿Estudiaste para el examen?
—Nop, no tuve tiempo.

—Did you study for the test?
—Nope, I didn't accept time.

4. Nel – Nah

This is a slang expression from United mexican states City.

—¿Vamos al cinematics?
—Nel.

—Permit's get to the movie theater?
—Nah.

5. Ni en tus sueños – In your dreams

This is an breezy, artistic, and sarcastic mode to deny something.

—¿Quieres salir conmigo?
—Ni en tus sueños.

—Do you desire to go out with me?
—In your dreams.

Meet also: 11 Simple Ways to Say 'Of Course' in Spanish

6. Por supuesto que no – Of grade not

This is a stronger style to deny something. Imagine saying information technology with a slightly indignant tone.

—¿Lo hiciste?
—¡Por supuesto que no! ¿Quién crees que soy?

—Yous did it?
—Of course non! Who do you lot think I am?

seven. Para cipher – Not at all

Here's another way to deny something. Use it in both informal and formal situations.

—¿Te gusta la pintura?
—Para nada.

—Practise you lot like the painting?
—Not at all.

eight. Claro que no – Of course not

This is a neutral, polite way to say "no" in Spanish if you want to deny something.

—Tú no te llevaste mis llaves, ¿verdad?
—Claro que no.

—You didn't take my keys, did you?
—Of course non.

9. ¿Estás loco o qué? – Are you crazy or what?

This informal phrase is a blunt mode to deny something without explicitly saying "no."

—¿Puedes cuidar de mi casa mientras me voy de vacaciones?
—¿Estás loco o qué? Tengo mi propia vida.

—Can yous take intendance of my house while I go on vacation?
—Are you crazy or what? I accept my own life.

10. Ni se te ocurra – Don't even recollect nigh it.

This phrase is informal simply still polite.

—Podríamos no ir a la última clase y escaparnos a la playa un ratito.
—Ni se te ocurra. Tenemos un examen mañana.

—We could skip the final class and go to the beach for a little while.
—Don't even remember well-nigh it. We have an exam tomorrow.

xi. Obvio que no – Obviously not

Here'due south another informal way to say "no" in Spanish to deny something.

—¿Te gustan las almejas?
—Obvio que no.

—Do yous like clams?
—Plain non.

12. Ya quisiera – I wish

This is a lovely, vernacular, and indirect mode to say "no" in Spanish.

—¿Dormiste la siesta?
—Ya quisiera.

—Did you accept a nap?
—I wish.

xiii. Negativo – Negative

Like in English language, this phrase comes from police radio codes. People too apply it in breezy conversations.

—¿El sospechoso está ahí?
—Negativo.

—Is the suspect there?
—Negative.

14. Ni de broma – No mode

Another colloquial expression, this is a synonym of para nada. It literally translates to "non even as a joke."

—¿Puedes prestarme tu coche?
—¡Ni de broma!

—Tin y'all lend me your car?
—No way.

xv. En absoluto – Non at all

This one is more than formal. Use it to emphasize your disagreement.

—¿A ti te gustan las nueces?
—¡En absoluto! Soy alérgico.

—Practise you like nuts?
—Admittedly not. I am allergic.

sixteen. De ninguna manera – No way

This is also a bit more formal expression, merely your mother could perfectly deny you something using it.

—Mamá, ¿puedo quedarme por la noche en la casa de Juan?
—De ninguna manera. Los niños tienen que dormir en sus propias casas.

—Mom, can I spend the night at Juan's business firm?
—No manner. Children have to sleep in their own houses.

Mitt-picked for yous: Ningun vs Ninguno: What's the Difference?

17. Aught de esto – No way

This is some other expression that Spanish-speaking parents like to use.

—Mamá, ¿puedo comprarme estos zapatos?
—Zip de esto señorita. Tienes diez años. Las niñas de tu edad no usan tacones.

—Mom, can I buy these shoes?
—Mo way, young lady. Girls your age don't wear heels.

18. Ni lo pienses – Don't even think about it

Employ this phrase with your friends to say "no" in a non offensive but decisive way.

—¿Y sí nos vamos en tu coche?
—Ni lo pienses. No quiero manejar todo el día.

—And if we become in your car?
—Don't even think about it. I don't want to drive all day.

nineteen. Ni hablar – No mode

If you hear this phrase, there's no space for negotiation.

—Pa, ¿puedo usar tu traje hoy por la noche?
—Ni hablar. Lo vas a ensuciar.

—Dad, can I use your suit this night?
—No mode. You're going to mess it up.

20. No me da la gana – I don't feel like information technology

This is an informal and frank mode to say "no."

—¡Vamos al parque!
—No me da la gana.

—Allow's go to the park!
—I don't want to.

21. No está el horno para bollos – This is the wrong moment

This expression means that it's non a practiced moment to do something and we should await a bit for a more than favorable situation.

—¿Vamos a pedirle a Pedro que nos preste su coche?
—Hoy mejor no. No está el horno para bollos, acaba de romper con su novia.

—Let'due south inquire Pedro to lend us his car.
—Better not today. This is the incorrect moment, he simply broke up with his girlfriend.

22. ¡Qué va! – No manner!

Want to say 'no' in Spanish in a vernacular way? Say ¡qué va!

—¿Te gustan los perros?
—¡Qué va! Yo soy fanático de los gatos.

—Do you similar dogs?
—No way! I'k a true cat person.

23. Bajo ningún concepto – By no means

This is a potent and formal way to plough something downwardly or deny something.

—¿Puedes prestarme mil pesos?
—Bajo ningún concepto. Nunca pagas tus deudas.

—Can you lend me a thousand pesos?
—Past no ways. You lot never pay your debts.

Practice Saying 'No' in Spanish!

Now you know how to say "no" in Spanish in so many ways. Spanish speakers get creative when they want to turn something down or deny something without offending the other person.

The best way to learn how people in the street speak is to mind to accurate dialogues equally oftentimes every bit possible. Sentry lots of Spanish Television set and Castilian serial to learn vernacular expressions and make them yours.

It takes time to sound like a Spanish native speaker, but it's worth the attempt. Did y'all know that according to the BBC, bilingual people are more empathetic than people who only speak 1 language? And if you ever get Alzheimer's, you'll show symptoms v years later on than monolingual speakers. I know, information technology's a pretty delayed reward, but I find it motivating.

If you want to take your Spanish to the side by side level, sign upwards for a free trial class. Practice in a ane-to-i setting with a friendly, experienced, native-Spanish-speaking teacher from Republic of guatemala. Have the opportunity to piece of work on saying "no" in Castilian and and so much more!

Ready to larn more Castilian grammar and vocabulary? Cheque these out!

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I'm a Spanish philologist, instructor, and freelance author with a Master'due south degree in Humanities from Madrid. I speak Polish, Spanish, and English fluently, and want to get better in Portuguese and High german. A lover of literature, and Mexican spicy cuisine, I've lived in Poland, Spain, and Mexico and I'chiliad currently living and education in Madeira, Portugal.

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