16 Ways To Say No In Spanish And Some Mexican Slang Phrases (With Examples)
In every language, you have to learn to say no. (We would even advise you to say no to things in your life overall, because it’s a liberating feeling – have your own boundaries!)
And saying no in Spanish is no exception. There are a lot of ways you can say no in Spanish: you can decline something politely, formally, informally, and you could even play around with some Spanish slang when saying no.
Here’s what Spring Spanish (one of my side projects) has to say about this:
In this blog post, we’re sharing 16 ways you can say no in Spanish no matter where you are in the world. Plus, at the end of this post, we’ll show you some Mexican slang, too, so you’re up-to-date with the latest Spanish vocabulary.
Formal ways to say no in Spanish
Let’s start immediately with the polite refusals in Spanish.
These are the formal ways to say no in Spanish when:
- you’re in a business meeting
- talking to your boss
- you’re trying to be courteous.
Get out of tricky situations with grace!
1. No (No)
This is the most basic and straightforward way to say no in Spanish.
Use it in any formal situation when you want to be clear and concise. It’s perfect for quick responses or when you need to be firm but polite.
Like this:
- “¿Puede usted trabajar horas extras este fin de semana?” (“Can you work overtime this weekend?”)
- “No, lo siento.” (“No, I’m sorry.”)
2. No, gracias (No, thank you)
This polite phrase is good for declining offers or invitations in a formal setting.
Check this in context:
- “¿Le gustaría probar nuestro nuevo producto?” (“Would you like to try our new product?”)
- “No, gracias. Estoy satisfecho con el que ya tengo.” (“No, thank you. I’m satisfied with the one I already have.”)
3. Me temo que no (I’m afraid not)
Use this phrase when you want to soften the blow of your refusal. It’s perfect for situations where you need to be sympathetic while still saying no.
In a real-life situation, this could sound like this:
- “¿Podría usted revisar mi informe hoy?” (“Could you review my report today?”)
- “Me temo que no. Tengo una agenda muy apretada.” (“I’m afraid not. I have a very tight schedule.”)
4. Lo siento, pero no (I’m sorry, but no)
This expression is great for showing empathy while still maintaining your position. Boundaries!
In context:
- “¿Sería posible adelantar la fecha de entrega?” (“Would it be possible to move up the delivery date?”)
- “Lo siento, pero no. Necesitamos el tiempo completo para garantizar la calidad.” ( “I’m sorry, but no. We need the full time to ensure quality.”)
5. De ninguna manera (In no way)
This phrase is a stronger way of saying no. Use it when you need to be absolutely clear (!) about your refusal in a formal context.
- “¿Podríamos omitir algunos pasos del proceso de seguridad?” ((“Could we skip some steps in the safety process?”)
- “De ninguna manera. La seguridad es nuestra prioridad principal.” (“In no way. Safety is our top priority.”)
6. En absoluto (Not at all)
This is another emphatic way to say no, often used to contradict a statement or assumption. It’s useful in formal debates.
Check this conversation:
- “¿Está usted de acuerdo con la nueva política?” (“Do you agree with the new policy?”)
- “En absoluto. Creo que necesita una revisión completa.” (“Not at all. I believe it needs a complete revision.”)
7. Lamentablemente no (Unfortunately not)
This phrase expresses regret while saying no. It’s perfect for formal situations where you want to show that you wish you could say yes, but can’t…
It happens:
- “¿Podría usted asistir a la conferencia la próxima semana?” (“Could you attend the conference next week?”)
- “Lamentablemente no. Tengo compromisos previos ineludibles.” (“Unfortunately not. I have unavoidable prior commitments.”)
8. Imposible (Impossible)
Use this when you want to emphasize that something absolutely cannot be done. It’s a strong but still formal way to refuse a request or proposal.

Imposibble is imposible in Spanish:
- “¿Podríamos duplicar la producción para el mes que viene?” (“Could we double production for next month?”
- “Imposible. Nuestros recursos están al máximo de su capacidad.” (“Impossible. Our resources are at maximum capacity.”)
Informal ways to say no in Spanish
Now, let’s loosen up a bit and explore the casual side of saying no in Spanish!
These informal expressions are perfect when you’re chatting with friends or family.
They’ll help you sound more natural and blend in with native speakers.
9. Nah (Nah)
This is a very casual way to say no, similar to its English counterpart. Use it with friends or in very informal situations when you want to keep things super relaxed.
For example:
- “¿Quieres ir al cine esta noche?” (“Do you want to go to the movies tonight?”)
- “Nah, prefiero quedarme en casa.” (“Do you want to go to the movies tonight?” “Nah, I’d rather stay home.”)
10. Qué va (No way)
This expression is used to strongly disagree.
It’s really good for informal conversations when you want to highlight your disagreement or disbelief with something or someone.
Talking about the weather in Spanish:
- “¿Crees que va a llover hoy?” (“Do you think it’s going to rain today?”)
- “Qué va, el cielo está despejado.” (“No way, the sky is clear.”)
11. Ni hablar (No way / Don’t even think about it)
Use this phrase when you want to strongly refuse something or express that something is out of the question.
Maybe you want to borrow your friend’s brand new car? Here is how it’ll probably go:
- “¿Me prestas tu coche nuevo?” (“Can I borrow your new car?”)
- “Ni hablar, acabo de comprarlo.” (“No way, I just bought it.”)
12. Ni de broma (Not even as a joke)
This expression is used to refuse something, implying that the suggestion is so unacceptable it shouldn’t even be considered as a joke!
In an extreme situation:
- “¿Te animas a hacer puenting este fin de semana?” (“Are you up for bungee jumping this weekend?”)
- “Ni de broma, me da pánico las alturas.” (“Not even as a joke, I’m terrified of heights.”)
13. Para nada (Not at all)
This is a casual way to strongly negate something. It can be used in different informal situations to underline your point.
Like this:
- “¿Te gustó la película?” (“Did you like the movie?”)
- “Para nada, me pareció aburridísima.” (“Not at all, I found it super boring.”)
14. Ni loco/a (Not even if I were crazy)
Use this phrase to express that you wouldn’t do something even in the most extreme circumstances.
It’s a colorful way to emphasize your refusal:
- “¿Te atreverías a comer insectos?” (“Would you dare to eat insects?”)
- “Ni loca, me da mucho asco.” (“Not even if I were crazy, it grosses me out.”)
15. Ni de coña (No way in hell)
This is a very strong and informal way to say no. Be cautious with this one, as it can be considered vulgar in some contexts.
Use it only with close friends or in very casual settings:
- “¿Vas a trabajar gratis este sábado?” (“Are you going to work for free this Saturday?”)
- “Ni de coña, valoro mi tiempo libre.” (“No way in hell, I value my free time.”)
16. Que no (I said no)
This is a way to reinforce a previous negative answer. It’s a bit like saying “I already said no”.

For instance:
- “Venga, sal con nosotros.” (“Come on, go out with us.”)
- “Que no, estoy cansado y quiero descansar.” (“I said no, I’m tired and want to rest.”)
Mexican slang vocabulary to say no in Spanish
Mexican Spanish is a bit different than the Spanish they speak in Europe. Or, another comparison could be Puerto Rican Spanish, or Colombian Spanish… The list goes on.

Nonetheless, Mexican slang exists, too, and if it does, then you have expressions for saying no in Spanish with these Mexican slang phrases.
Here they are:
Mexican Spanish | English |
---|---|
Nel | Nope |
Neta que no | Seriously, no |
Ni madres | No way |
Ni de chiste | Not even as a joke |
Simón que no | Yeah, no |
Ni de pedo | No fucking way |
Nombre | No way |
Ni de chiste | Not even kidding |
We’re not the biggest fans of simple vocabulary tables where we just list words and phrases, because learning Spanish is much more effective if you see the Spanish words in action.
(What’s even better? Hearing Spanish-speaking natives with perfect pronunciation: that’s why you should also check out the best Spanish podcasts!)
And language learning would be nothing without seeing these expressions in context. So, let’s imagine a situation where friends talk about NOT going to a party because of their partners… 🙂 Pretty silly, but still a real-life situation.
Check the phrases in Spanish with example sentences:
Richard: “Oye, ¿vas a la fiesta de Juan este fin de semana?” (Hey, are you going to Juan’s party this weekend?)
Edi: “Nel, carnal. Mi novia se enojaría si voy.” (Nope, bro. My girlfriend would be angry if I go.)
Richard: “Nombre, igual yo. Ni de chiste me deja ir la mía.” (No way, same here. Mine wouldn’t let me go, not even as a joke.)
Edi: “Simón que no, mejor nos quedamos en casa. Ni madres arriesgarnos a que se enojen.” (Yeah, no, better we stay at home. No way we’re risking them getting angry.)
Richard: “Tienes razón. Neta que no vale la pena el problema.” (You’re right. Seriously, it’s not worth the trouble.)
Practice all the different ways to say no in Spanish
You can practice saying no in Spanish with these exercises:
But wait, there’s more! We have a lot more in our library:
Learn Spanish and translate with confidence: Conversation Based Chunking
As we have already stated: we’re not the biggest fans of traditional language learning. Instead, we like to give lots of Spanish examples through different contexts.
This approach that we advocate for is called Conversation Based Chunking. It focuses on lexical chunks: the natural building blocks of the language. If you learn with chunks, you will know how to say what you want without constantly translating everything in your head.
And, you won’t even have to learn boring grammar rules!
If you’re interested, sign up now, and learn different ways to say no in Spanish, or any other expression!