It's easy to learn how to say no in Spanish, it's the same word as English. 🙂
However, consistently answering with a short “no” in response to questions may be perceived offensively. At minimum, it can get a little boring and repetitive in your conversations.
Just by adding a few of these words and phrases to your vocabulary, you can politely disagree in any situation.
Let's review 10 ways to say “no” in Spanish to add a little more variety to your conversations:
1) Creo que no → I don’t think so.
¿Vas a ir a la fiesta de Amalia?
– Creo que no.
Are you going to go to the party with Amalia?
– I don’t think so.
2) La verdad es que no → Truthfully, no.
¿Quieres ir a nadar mañana?
– La verdad es que no.
Do you want to go swimming tomorrow?
– Truthfully, no.
3) No puedo → I can’t.
¿Vienes de compras el sábado conmigo?
–Lo siento, no puedo.
Are you going shopping with me on Saturday?
– I’m sorry, I can’t.
4) No estoy de acuerdo → I don’t agree.
Dicen que comer fruta es malo.
– No estoy de acuerdo. La fruta es muy saludable.
They say that eating fruit is bad.
– I don’t agree. Fruit is very healthy.
5) Me parece que no → It doesn’t look like it.
¿Vas a terminar el proyecto para mañana?
– Me parece que no.
Are you going to finish the project for tomorrow?
– It doesn’t look like it.
6) No tiene sentido → It doesn’t make sense.
Voy a caminar a la tienda en la lluvia.
– No hagas eso, no tiene sentido.
I am going to walk to the store in the rain.
– Don’t do that, it doesn’t make sense.
7) De ninguna manera → No way.
¿Tu crees que debo lavar mi ropa blanca con mi camiseta roja?
–¡De ninguna manera!
Do you think I should wash my white clothing with my red shirt?
– No way!
8) Yo tampoco → Me either. (Note: Although this is a negative response, you usually use it when you agree with another person about something they disagree with :))
No quiero ir al gimnasio hoy.
– Yo tampoco.
I don’t want to go to the gym today.
– Me either.
9) Nunca en la vida → Not in this lifetime.
¿Vas al cine conmigo?
– ¡Nunca en la vida!
Do you want to go to the movies with me?
– Not in this lifetime!
10) Ni lo sueñes→ Not even in your dreams.
¿Me das un beso?
-¡Ni lo sueñes!
Will you give me a kiss?
Not even in your dreams!
There you have it, now you know 10 different ways to say “no” in Spanish. Use one of these phrases the next time you have a conversation, and you will sound much more natural speaking Spanish.
Tamara
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¡Hola! My name is Tamara Marie. I'm a language coach specializing in brain-friendly methods to learn foreign languages faster. I speak English (US native), Spanish (advanced), and Brazilian Portuguese (beginner). I'm a Latin music & dance addict and passionate about helping people learn languages.
