Although “no” in Spanish and English look exactly the same, they don’t\u00a0sound exactly the same.<\/strong><\/p>\n The pronunciations are different, and saying “no” in Spanish the same you do in English will make you sound like a true gringo<\/em> (foreigner)!<\/p>\n The\u00a0o<\/em> in the Spanish “no<\/em>” is shorter and sharper than in English. Compare the two sounds by clicking on the audio icons below:<\/p>\n Spanish: No<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n English: No <\/p>\n Note: Unlike with standard English, double negatives<\/strong> are correct in Spanish<\/strong>.<\/a><\/p>\n So using no <\/em>with negative words<\/a> like nunca\u00a0<\/em>(never),\u00a0nadie <\/em>(no one) or\u00a0nada\u00a0<\/em>(nothing) is completely correct.\u00a0For example:<\/p>\n No<\/strong> bebo cerveza nunca<\/strong>. <\/em>(I don’t ever drink beer.)<\/p>\n \u00c9l no<\/strong> habl\u00f3 con nadie<\/strong> en la fiesta.<\/em> (He didn’t speak to anyone at the party.)<\/p>\n Nadie <\/strong>vio nada<\/strong> nuevo all\u00ed.<\/em> (No one saw anything new there.)<\/p>\n This is a basic, polite way to express that, “really, I’d rather not.”<\/p>\n \u00bfQuieres una copa de sake japon\u00e9s?\u00a0<\/i>(Do you want a cup of Japanese sake?)<\/p>\n No gracias.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>(No, thank you.)<\/p>\n While it literally means “what goes,” this is used to express that you cannot believe what the other person is saying and find it to be nonsense.<\/p>\n V\u00e1monos a alimentar a los\u00a0<\/em>caimanes.<\/em>\u00a0(Let’s go feed the alligators.)<\/p>\n \u00a1Qu\u00e9\u00a0va!<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>(No way!)<\/p>\n This word is one of the most forceful ways to say “no” in Spanish. It leaves no chance of misinterpretation!<\/p>\n \u00bfTe casar\u00e1s conmigo?\u00a0<\/em>(Will you marry me?)<\/p>\n \u00a1Nunca!\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>(Never!)<\/p>\n This phrase translates literally to “clearly not” or “of course not”.<\/p>\n \u00bfDejaste la puerta sin llave?\u00a0<\/em>(Did you leave the door unlocked?)<\/p>\n Claro que no. <\/em><\/strong>Siempre la cierro con llave.\u00a0<\/em>(Of course not. I always lock it.)<\/p>\n This “no” is implied. When there is enough of something, you do not need any more. Just respond to a question like “Do you want more of this?” with “That’s enough.”<\/p>\n \u00bfQuieres que suba el volumen?\u00a0<\/em>(Do you want me to turn up the volume?)<\/p>\n El volumen est\u00e1 bien. Lo suficiente.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>(The volume is fine. It’s enough.)<\/p>\n Use this expression when something is so completely wrong you cannot even consider it. It is often followed by que<\/em>\u00a0to mean “there is no way that…”<\/p>\n Las pel\u00edculas de Walt Disney son mejores que las de Don Bluth.\u00a0<\/em>(Walt Disney’s movies are better than Don Bluth’s.)<\/p>\n \u00bfEst\u00e1s loco? Ni hablar<\/strong> que Disney es mejor que Bluth.\u00a0<\/em>(Are you crazy? No way is Disney better than Bluth.)<\/p>\n Someone has a really bad idea? Use this “no.”<\/p>\n \u00a1Escucha! Nosotros robaremos del Vaticano ma\u00f1ana por la noche.\u00a0<\/em>(Listen! We will rob from the Vatican tomorrow night.)<\/p>\n \u00bfQu\u00e9?\u00a0Ni se te ocurra.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>(What? Don’t even think about it.)<\/p>\n This expression is close to the English “in your dreams!”<\/p>\n Bueno, no robaremos del Vaticano. Hurtaremos la Mona Lisa del Louvre. <\/em>(Okay, we won’t rob the Vatican. We’ll steal the Mona Lisa from the Louvre.)<\/p>\n \u00a1Est\u00e1s loco!\u00a0Ni lo sue\u00f1es.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>(You’re crazy! No way!)<\/p>\n This phrase is an additional way to say “of course not”.<\/p>\n \u00bf\u00c9l reprob\u00f3 el examen? <\/em>(Did he fail the exam?)<\/p>\n \u00a1Por supuesto que no<\/strong>!<\/span><\/span> Estudi\u00f3 mucho.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/em>(Of course not! He studied a lot.)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Use this one to express a firm negative answer to a suggestion.<\/p>\n Quiero ser rico. Viajaremos a Jap\u00f3n y…\u00a0<\/em>(I want to be rich. We’ll travel to Japan and…)<\/p>\n \u00a1No! \u00a1De eso nada!<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>(No! It’s not happening!)<\/p>\n This expression literally means “not in any way” and is actually the closest in meaning to the English “no way.”<\/p>\n Bueno, podemos robar el Diamante de la esperanza del Smithsonian.\u00a0<\/em>(Okay, we can steal the Hope Diamond<\/a> from the Smithsonian.)<\/p>\n De ninguna manera.<\/strong> El Diamante de la esperanza est\u00e1 maldito.\u00a0<\/em>(No way. The Hope Diamond is cursed.)<\/p>\n Meaning “for nothing; at all,” this phrase is often used to emphasize a negation. Used by itself, its meaning is close to “not at all” and it is a softer way to say “no.”<\/p>\n Podemos robar las zapatillas de rub\u00ed del Smithsonian.\u00a0<\/em>(We can steal the ruby slippers<\/a> from the Smithsonian.)<\/p>\n Para nada.<\/strong> Pens\u00e9 que las zapatillas de “El mago de Oz” eran de plata.\u00a0<\/em>(No way. I thought the slippers from “The Wizard of Oz” were made of silver.)<\/p>\n Have you ever responded with an astounded “nooo!” when something is beyond belief? This is the Spanish equivalent of that.<\/p>\n No puede ser.<\/strong> Las zapatillas siempre han sido de rub\u00ed. <\/em>(It can’t be. The slippers have always been ruby.)<\/p>\n This colloquial phrase translates most closely to “not even as a joke”. It is used to mean something like “no way,” “not a chance” or “not on your life”.\u00a0<\/p>\n Creo que este yogur est\u00e1 podrido. \u00a1Ven aqu\u00ed y hu\u00e9lelo! <\/em>(I think this yogurt is spoiled. Come here and smell it!)<\/p>\n \u00a1Qu\u00e9 asco! \u00a1<\/em>Ni de broma!\u00a0<\/em>(Yuck! No way!)<\/p>\n Use this when you are bewildered that the speaker is even asking their question. Think: “You need more money? Seriously?”<\/p>\n \u00bfQuieres escuchar m\u00e1s juegos de palabras?\u00a0<\/em>(Do you want to hear more puns?)<\/p>\n \u00bfEn serio?\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>(Are you serious?)<\/p>\n When you are not interested, shake someone off with this phrase.<\/p>\n S\u00e9 muchos juegos de palabras en ambos ingl\u00e9s y espa\u00f1ol.\u00a0<\/em>(I know many puns in both English and Spanish.)<\/p>\n No me digas.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>(Don’t tell me that.)<\/p>\n When you have finally had enough, this phrase will declare that you are really not interested.<\/p>\n Bueno, comenzar\u00e9 con mis juegos de palabras con “no.”\u00a0<\/em>(Okay, I’ll start with my puns about “no.”)<\/p>\n \u00bfPor qu\u00e9 me odias? Ya basta.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>(Why do you hate me? Enough already.)<\/p>\n As strange as it sounds, you don’t always have to use “no.” You can use verbs to convey your meaning, too.<\/p>\n Notice that I used the imperative mood (command verb forms<\/a>) in the example sentences. This is used when you want to be direct, get someone’s attention or give a “command.”<\/p>\n When the imperative is combined with off-putting vocal tones and body language, your intention to say “no” is implied, even if you don’t actually say the word.<\/p>\n The best way to practice these little nuances is by speaking the language and hearing it. This is why I suggest watching lots of Spanish movies<\/a> or videos<\/a>, or using an immersion program like FluentU.<\/a> FluentU<\/strong> takes authentic videos\u2014like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks\u2014and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.<\/p>\r\n You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app<\/a> or Android app.<\/a><\/p>\r\n P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month)<\/a><\/i>\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n 2. No gracias<\/em> \u2014 No, thank you<\/h2>\n
3. Qu\u00e9 va<\/em> \u2014 No way<\/h2>\n
4. Nunca<\/em> \u2014 Never<\/h2>\n
5. Claro que no <\/em>\u00a0\u2014 Of course not<\/h2>\n
6. Lo suficiente<\/em> \u2014 It’s enough<\/h2>\n
7. Ni hablar<\/em> \u2014 Forget it, no way<\/h2>\n
8. Ni se te ocurra<\/em> \u2014<\/em>\u00a0Don’t even think about it<\/h2>\n
9. Ni lo sue\u00f1es<\/em> \u2014 No way<\/h2>\n
10. Por supuesto que no<\/em> \u2014 Of course not<\/h2>\n
11. De eso nada<\/em> \u2014 It’s not happening<\/h2>\n
12. De ninguna manera<\/em> \u2014 No way<\/h2>\n
13. Para nada<\/em> \u2014 No way<\/h2>\n
14. No puede ser<\/em> \u2014 It can’t be<\/h2>\n
15. Ni de broma<\/em> \u00a0\u2014 No way<\/h2>\n
16. \u00bfEn serio?<\/em> \u2014 Are you serious?<\/h2>\n
17. No me digas<\/em> \u2014 Don’t tell me that<\/h2>\n
18. Ya basta<\/em> \u2014\u00a0<\/em>Enough already<\/h2>\n
Powerful Verbs for Saying “No” in Spanish<\/h2>\n
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