nie ma mowy
/ˈɲɛ.ma ˈmɔ.vɘ/
The Polish way to say "no way" (meaning absolutely not) is nie ma mowy.
You use nie ma mowy as an idiomatic way to express that something is absolutely not possible or that you refuse to allow something to happen. While it is a common expression, you can also use related adverbial phrases like pod żadnym pozorem, pod żadnym warunkiem or pod żadnym względem to convey similar meanings.
Meaning: absolutely not (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase nie ma mowy literally translates to "there is no word" or "there is no talk."
Which one should you use?
While nie ma mowy is a common idiomatic expression for "no way," the phrase pod żadnym pozorem is a more formal way to say "under no circumstances."
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When you are expressing "there is no way that [something will happen]," the phrase nie ma mowy is typically followed by the conjunction że.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈɲɛ.ma ˈmɔ.vɘ/. It has 4 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- The word mowy comes from the root for 'speech' or 'language'. This is a distant relative of the English word 'mute', as both trace back to ancient roots concerning the ability to speak.
- While nie ma mowy expresses a firm refusal, Polish speakers often pair this sentiment with a sharp shake of the head or a dismissive hand gesture to emphasize that the conversation is closed.
- In very informal settings, Poles might replace nie ma mowy with the slang zapomnij, which literally means 'forget it'.
Examples in context
- Nie ma mowy, że to zrobię.There's no way I'm doing that.This sentence shows how to use nie ma mowy to express a refusal to do something.Tatoeba #3847946 by jeedrek, translation #1349832 by CK
- Nie ma mowy, że to zadziała.There's no way that'll work.This sentence uses nie ma mowy to express that something will not work.Tatoeba #7164917 by arie, translation #5850805 by CK
- Nie ma mowy, że pozwolę Tomowi wyjść po zmroku.There's no way I'm letting Tom go out after dark.This sentence demonstrates using nie ma mowy to express refusal to allow an action.Tatoeba #5727910 by jeedrek, translation #3096797 by CK
Example conversation
Tomasz asks Katarzyna to lend him a lot of money.
- TomaszKatarzyna, czy pożyczysz mi tysiąc złotych?Katarzyna, will you lend me a thousand zlotys?
- KatarzynaNie ma mowy, Tomasz!No way, Tomasz!
- TomaszNaprawdę nie możesz mi pomóc?Can you really not help me?
- KatarzynaPrzykro mi, ale nie dam ci tych pieniędzy.I am sorry, but I won't give you that money.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “no way” translations and entries nie ma mowy, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
