Have you ever wondered how to say no in different languages?
Sometimes, such a small word carries big meaning — from politely declining an offer to setting boundaries with confidence.
Learning how to express “no” across cultures isn’t just about vocabulary, it’s about understanding respect, tone, and connection in everyday conversations.
This article is written just for you, to make the journey both fun and educational.
You’ll discover how people around the world say “no,” with clear pronunciations and example sentences to help you use them naturally.
By the end, you won’t just know the word — you’ll feel a little closer to the cultures and languages behind it.
So, let’s dive in and start exploring together!
🌐 How to Say No in 70 Different Languages
- English (🇬🇧) – No | Pronunciation: noh
Example: No, I don’t want coffee. - Spanish (🇪🇸) – No | Pronunciation: noh
Example: No quiero ir. (I don’t want to go.) - French (🇫🇷) – Non | Pronunciation: nohng
Example: Non, merci. (No, thank you.) - German (🇩🇪) – Nein | Pronunciation: nine
Example: Nein, das ist nicht richtig. (No, that is not correct.) - Italian (🇮🇹) – No | Pronunciation: noh
Example: No, non posso venire. (No, I can’t come.) - Portuguese (🇵🇹) – Não | Pronunciation: now (nasal)
Example: Não quero isso. (I don’t want that.) - Russian (🇷🇺) – Нет (Nyet) | Pronunciation: nyet
Example: Нет, спасибо. (No, thank you.) - Chinese (Mandarin) (🇨🇳) – 不 (Bù) | Pronunciation: boo
Example: 不，我不喜欢. (No, I don’t like it.) - Japanese (🇯🇵) – いいえ (Iie) | Pronunciation: ee-eh
Example: いいえ、結構です. (No, that’s fine.) - Korean (🇰🇷) – 아니요 (Aniyo) | Pronunciation: ah-nee-yoh
Example: 아니요, 필요 없어요. (No, I don’t need it.) - Arabic (🇸🇦) – لا (Lā) | Pronunciation: lah
Example: لا، شكراً. (No, thank you.) - Hindi (🇮🇳) – नहीं (Nahin) | Pronunciation: nah-heen
Example: नहीं, मुझे यह नहीं चाहिए। (No, I don’t want this.) - Urdu (🇵🇰) – نہیں (Nahi) | Pronunciation: nah-hee
Example: نہیں، شکریہ۔ (No, thank you.) - Turkish (🇹🇷) – Hayır | Pronunciation: HAH-yuhr
Example: Hayır, istemiyorum. (No, I don’t want it.) - Greek (🇬🇷) – Όχι (Ochi) | Pronunciation: OH-hee
Example: Όχι, δεν μπορώ. (No, I can’t.) - Hebrew (🇮🇱) – לא (Lo) | Pronunciation: loh
Example: לא, תודה. (No, thank you.) - Thai (🇹🇭) – ไม่ (Mai) | Pronunciation: my
Example: ไม่ ฉันไม่หิว. (No, I’m not hungry.) - Vietnamese (🇻🇳) – Không | Pronunciation: khong
Example: Không, tôi không muốn. (No, I don’t want it.) - Swahili (🇰🇪) – Hapana | Pronunciation: hah-pah-nah
Example: Hapana, sitaki chai. (No, I don’t want tea.) - Zulu (🇿🇦) – Cha | Pronunciation: chah
Example: Cha, angifuni. (No, I don’t want it.) - Afrikaans (🇿🇦) – Nee | Pronunciation: nee
Example: Nee, ek wil nie hê nie. (No, I don’t want it.) - Dutch (🇳🇱) – Nee | Pronunciation: nay
Example: Nee, dank je. (No, thank you.) - Polish (🇵🇱) – Nie | Pronunciation: nyeh
Example: Nie, to nie jest moje. (No, that’s not mine.) - Czech (🇨🇿) – Ne | Pronunciation: neh
Example: Ne, děkuji. (No, thank you.) - Slovak (🇸🇰) – Nie | Pronunciation: nyeh
Example: Nie, nechcem to. (No, I don’t want it.) - Hungarian (🇭🇺) – Nem | Pronunciation: nem
Example: Nem, nem értek egyet. (No, I don’t agree.) - Finnish (🇫🇮) – Ei | Pronunciation: ay
Example: Ei, kiitos. (No, thank you.) - Swedish (🇸🇪) – Nej | Pronunciation: nay
Example: Nej, det vill jag inte. (No, I don’t want that.) - Norwegian (🇳🇴) – Nei | Pronunciation: nye
Example: Nei, det går ikke. (No, it’s not possible.) - Danish (🇩🇰) – Nej | Pronunciation: nay
Example: Nej, tak. (No, thanks.) - Romanian (🇷🇴) – Nu | Pronunciation: noo
Example: Nu, nu vreau. (No, I don’t want.) - Bulgarian (🇧🇬) – Не (Ne) | Pronunciation: neh
Example: Не, благодаря. (No, thank you.) - Serbian (🇷🇸) – Не (Ne) | Pronunciation: neh
Example: Не, не могу. (No, I can’t.) - Croatian (🇭🇷) – Ne | Pronunciation: neh
Example: Ne, ne želim to. (No, I don’t want that.) - Bosnian (🇧🇦) – Ne | Pronunciation: neh
Example: Ne, hvala. (No, thanks.) - Slovenian (🇸🇮) – Ne | Pronunciation: neh
Example: Ne, ne trebam to. (No, I don’t need that.) - Estonian (🇪🇪) – Ei | Pronunciation: ay
Example: Ei, aitäh. (No, thank you.) - Latvian (🇱🇻) – Nē | Pronunciation: neh
Example: Nē, man to nevajag. (No, I don’t need that.) - Lithuanian (🇱🇹) – Ne | Pronunciation: neh
Example: Ne, ačiū. (No, thank you.) - Maltese (🇲🇹) – Le | Pronunciation: leh
Example: Le, grazzi. (No, thanks.) - Icelandic (🇮🇸) – Nei | Pronunciation: nay
Example: Nei, takk. (No, thank you.) - Irish (🇮🇪) – Ní hea | Pronunciation: nee hyah
Example: Ní hea, níl mé ag iarraidh. (No, I don’t want it.) - Welsh (🇬🇧) – Na | Pronunciation: nah
Example: Na, diolch. (No, thanks.) - Scottish Gaelic (🏴) – Chan eil | Pronunciation: khan yel
Example: Chan eil, chan urrainn dhomh. (No, I can’t.) - Persian (Farsi) (🇮🇷) – نه (Na) | Pronunciation: nah
Example: نه، متشکرم. (No, thank you.) - Pashto (🇦🇫) – نه (Na) | Pronunciation: nah
Example: نه، زه نه غواړم. (No, I don’t want it.) - Punjabi (🇮🇳/🇵🇰) – ਨਹੀਂ (Nahi) | Pronunciation: nah-hee
Example: ਨਹੀਂ, ਧੰਨਵਾਦ। (No, thank you.) - Bengali (🇧🇩) – না (Na) | Pronunciation: nah
Example: না, আমি চাই না। (No, I don’t want.) - Tamil (🇮🇳/🇱🇰) – இல்லை (Illai) | Pronunciation: ill-eye
Example: இல்லை, வேண்டாம். (No, I don’t want.) - Telugu (🇮🇳) – లేదు (Lēdu) | Pronunciation: lay-doo
Example: లేదు, ధన్యవాదాలు. (No, thank you.) - Kannada (🇮🇳) – ಇಲ್ಲ (Illla) | Pronunciation: ill-lah
Example: ಇಲ್ಲ, ಬೇಡ. (No, I don’t want.) - Malayalam (🇮🇳) – ഇല്ല (Illa) | Pronunciation: ill-ah
Example: ഇല്ല, നന്ദി. (No, thank you.) - Sinhala (🇱🇰) – නැහැ (Næhæ) | Pronunciation: neh-heh
Example: නැහැ, මට ඕනේ නෑ. (No, I don’t want.) - Nepali (🇳🇵) – होइन (Hoina) | Pronunciation: hoi-na
Example: होइन, मलाई चाहिँदैन। (No, I don’t need it.) - Tagalog (🇵🇭) – Hindi | Pronunciation: hin-dee
Example: Hindi, ayoko niyan. (No, I don’t want that.) - Indonesian (🇮🇩) – Tidak | Pronunciation: tee-dahk
Example: Tidak, terima kasih. (No, thank you.) - Malay (🇲🇾) – Tidak | Pronunciation: tee-dahk
Example: Tidak, saya tidak mahu. (No, I don’t want.) - Javanese (🇮🇩) – Ora | Pronunciation: oh-rah
Example: Ora, aku ora gelem. (No, I don’t want.) - Filipino (🇵🇭) – Hindi | Pronunciation: hin-dee
Example: Hindi, salamat. (No, thank you.) - Mongolian (🇲🇳) – Үгүй (Ügüi) | Pronunciation: oo-goi
Example: Үгүй, би үүнийг хүсэхгүй байна. (No, I don’t want this.) - Khmer (Cambodian) (🇰🇭) – ទេ (Té) | Pronunciation: tay
Example: ទេ ខ្ញុំមិនចង់ទេ។ (No, I don’t want.) - Lao (🇱🇦) – ບໍ່ (Bò) | Pronunciation: baw
Example: ບໍ່, ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ຕ້ອງການ. (No, I don’t want.) - Burmese (🇲🇲) – မဟုတ်ဘူး (Ma hote bu) | Pronunciation: mah-hoot-boo
Example: မဟုတ်ဘူး, မလိုပါဘူး။ (No, I don’t need it.)
🌸 Conclusion
Learning how to say no in different languages is more than just picking up a new word — it’s about appreciating the beauty of cultural diversity and communication. From simple refusals to polite declines, each language adds its own flavor to the word “no.”
Now, whenever you travel, meet new people, or explore another culture, you’ll have the confidence to express yourself clearly and respectfully. And who knows? Understanding how to say “no” might just open the door to saying “yes” to even more meaningful connections.
James Parker is a passionate and insightful American author known for his unique ability to connect complex ideas with everyday experiences. With a background in creative writing and over a decade of experience in the literary world, James has dedicated his career to inspiring readers through thoughtful storytelling and practical wisdom.
His writing style is modern, engaging, and deeply reflective, often focusing on personal growth, human relationships, and the subtle beauty of life’s challenges. James Parker’s work is highly respected for its authenticity and relevance, making him a favorite among readers seeking both knowledge and emotional connection.
Over the years, James has authored several impactful books, including “The Path Within”, “Finding Clarity”, and “Bridges of Thought”, which continue to resonate with audiences around the world.