tu tarjeta fue rechazada
/tu taɾxeta fwe ɾet͡ʃaθada/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "your card declined" is expressed as tu tarjeta fue rechazada.
This phrase is used to inform someone that their credit or debit card payment was not accepted by the system. While tu tarjeta fue rechazada is a standard way to express a declined card, you may encounter different phrasing depending on the context. For example, El pago no fue autorizado means "The payment was not authorized" and in formal banking software or official notifications, the more technical term la tarjeta ha sido declinada may be used to mean "the card has been declined".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase tu tarjeta fue rechazada is a literal translation of "your card was rejected".
Which one should you use?
The choice of words often depends on the level of formality. In informal situations, you might hear La tarjeta no pasó to mean "The card didn't go through". In formal settings, you might see La tarjeta fue rechazada for "The card was rejected".
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase polite or formal, use su tarjeta fue rechazada instead of tu tarjeta fue rechazada to change the possessive from "your" (informal) to "your" (formal/polite).
Did you know?
- The word tarjeta is a diminutive form of tarja, a word historically used to refer to a small plate or a shield.
- Spanish uses the passive voice fue rechazada to deliver this news. This shifts the focus away from the person denying the payment and onto the system itself.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, people may simply say no pasó when a card declines. This literally translates to 'it did not pass', treating the transaction like a physical gateway.
Examples in context
- Mi tarjeta no pasó, ¿tienes efectivo para cubrirme?My card didn't go through, do you have cash to cover me?
- El plástico no pasóThe card didn't go through
- Lo siento, tu tarjeta fue rechazada.I am sorry, your card was declined.
- Parece que tu tarjeta fue rechazada por el banco.It seems that your card was declined by the bank.
- Intenté cobrar, pero tu tarjeta fue rechazada.I tried to charge it, but your card was declined.
Example conversation
At a coffee shop, Daniel is trying to pay for his drink.
- LucíaLo siento, Daniel, tu tarjeta fue rechazada.I am sorry, Daniel, your card was declined.
- Daniel¿Seguro? No entiendo qué pasa.Are you sure? I don't understand what is happening.
- LucíaSí, creo que hay un problema con el sistema.Yes, I think there is a problem with the system.
- DanielVoy a usar efectivo, entonces.I will use cash, then.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tarjeta, tu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
