Me niego
/me njeɡo/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "I refuse" is expressed as Me niego.
Me niego is a phrase used to state that you will not do something or will not accept something. For example, you might use the phrase Me niego a aceptar to say "I refuse to accept" when declining an offer or certain terms.
Which one should you use?
While No quiero translates to "I don't want to," it expresses a simple lack of desire. In contrast, Me niego is much stronger and more formal, conveying a firm, principled refusal rather than just a preference.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you use Me niego to express a refusal to perform a specific action, it must be followed by the preposition a before an infinitive verb (for example, Me niego a permitirlo).
How do you pronounce it?
/me njeɡo/
Did you know?
- In some Latin American cultures, a direct Me niego can be perceived as an aggressive confrontation, leading people to use indirect phrases like Me es imposible to refuse politely.
- The word niego comes from the verb negar, which in Spanish serves a double purpose: it means both to refuse an action and to deny the truth of a statement.
- Using Me niego can sometimes sound more dramatic or theatrical than a standard 'no' because it implies a conflict of will. It is the kind of phrase you might hear in a Spanish-language soap opera during a climactic moment of defiance.
Examples in context
- ¿Y si me niego?What if I refuse?This example shows how to use Me niego in a question about the consequences of refusal.Tatoeba #2246937 by Shishir, translation #2235207 by Hybrid
- Me niego a permitirlo.I refuse to allow it.This example demonstrates using Me niego to refuse to allow something.Tatoeba #4433954 by pchamorro, translation #2392559 by CK
- Me niego a tomar esto.I refuse to drink this.This example shows how to use Me niego to refuse to consume something.Tatoeba #9183434 by ignacio, translation #9183199 by CK
- Lo siento, pero tengo que rechazar su oferta.I'm sorry, but I have to decline your offer.
- ¡Ni loco(a)!No way!
- No me lateI'm not into it
- Ni hablarNo way
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Elena are arguing about a job offer.
- JavierEs una oportunidad excelente, Elena.It is an excellent opportunity, Elena.
- ElenaNo, me niego a aceptar ese trabajo.No, I refuse to accept that job.
- JavierPero es muy bueno para ti.But it is very good for you.
- ElenaNo me importa, Javier.I don't care, Javier.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
