Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| no | /ˈno/ |
| no pues | /no pwes/ (from spelling rules) |
The most straightforward way to say no in Spanish is simply using the word no. It is used to show disagreement or negation. You can use the phrase aún no to express "not yet" and the phrase No, gracias to say "No, thank you." To maintain politeness when declining a request, you can add por favor after no.
Which one should you use?
While no can be used as a direct answer for "no," it is also the standard way to express "not" when negating an action, such as in no como (I do not eat).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The expression no pues is a colloquial filler or emphatic expression used in certain Latin American dialects, often to express resignation or to react to something obvious.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, another way to say "no" informally is ni hablar, which means "no way" or "forget it".
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
In Spanish, no is used as a particle to negate verbs, whereas in English "not" is used to negate adjectives or nouns (for example, "not happy").
How do you pronounce it?
{'ipa': '/ˈno/'}
When do people say it?
The expression No me apetece is an informal way to say "I don't feel like it."
Did you know?
- In Spanish, double negatives are grammatically correct and common, such as in no vino nadie, which literally means 'no one didn't come' but translates to 'nobody came'.
- In some Latin American cultures, a person might say sí but their body language or hesitation actually means no to avoid being impolite.
- The word no can be used as a question tag at the end of a sentence, similar to 'right?' or 'isn't it?', to seek confirmation from the listener.
Examples in context
- No, aún no sé.No, I still don't know.Tatoeba #1502230 by marcelostockle, translation #9966252 by DJ_Saidez
- Esto y no más.This and no more.Tatoeba #2268897 by cueyayotl, translation #2268896 by _undertoad
- Yo ya dije no.I already said no.Tatoeba #4563333 by ecorralest101, translation #4562444 by Hybrid
- No puedo asistirI can't attend
- No, gracias. No estoy interesado/aNo, thank you. I'm not interested
- Aún no he terminado el informeI haven't finished the report yet
- No puedo ir a la fiestaI can't go to the party
- Hoy no me apetece salirI don't feel like going out today
- Todavía no he terminado los deberesI haven't finished the homework yet
- Todavía no tengo la informaciónI don't have the information yet
- Ni hablar, no voy a prestar mi cocheNo way, I'm not going to lend you my car
- 3432 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo asks Elena if she wants to go to the party.
- Mateo¿Quieres ir a la fiesta con nosotros?Do you want to go to the party with us?
- ElenaNo, no puedo ir hoy.No, I cannot go today.
- Mateo¿Estás muy ocupada, Elena?Are you very busy, Elena?
- ElenaSí, tengo mucho trabajo.Yes, I have a lot of work.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “no” translations and entries no, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
