Saying no in Spanish might seem easy... just say no, right? 🤔 Well, not quite! In Spanish, you'll also hear words like nada, nadie, or even fun expressions like qué va or paso 😱.
In this blog, you'll learn:
❓ Is 'nada' the same as 'no'?
🙇 How to say 'no' politely
😬 Whether 'no, gracias' is rude (spoiler: it’s not!)
🤯 What 'no nada' actually means
💃 Cool ways to say 'no way' — inspired by Taylor Swift 🎤
And of course... there's a quiz at the end! 💥
Nope! ❌
The word 'nada' actually means nothing — not no. But in Spanish, we often use 'no' and 'nada' together like best friends 👯♀️.
💬 No tengo nada. → I have nothing.
In English, that sounds like a double negative (I don’t have nothing ❌), but in Spanish, it's 100% correct ✅.
👉 So:
➡️ no = no
➡️ nada = nothing
🧠 You need both in negative sentences — no goes before the verb, and nada after.
Just saying no can sound a bit... dry 🥱. Here are some nice and natural ways to say no without being rude:
😊 No, gracias. – No, thank you
🙏 Lo siento, pero no puedo. – I’m sorry, but I can’t
🤷♀️ Tal vez otro día. – Maybe another day
🫶 Gracias, pero ya tengo planes. – Thanks, but I already have plans
✨ Tip: Say it with a smile and you’ll sound 100% polite (and adorable 😄).
No way! 🚫
In fact, 'no, gracias' is the go-to phrase when you want to politely refuse something.
💬 ¿Quieres más paella?
→ No, gracias. 😌
It’s short, sweet, and you’ll hear it everywhere in Spain 🇪🇸.
Alone, no nada sounds weird 🙃. But when you put it in a sentence, it’s part of a powerful Spanish grammar move: the double negative 💥.
💬 No quiero nada. → I don’t want anything
💬 No pasa nada. → It’s nothing / Don’t worry
💬 No hay nadie en casa. → Nobody is at home
👉 So don’t be scared of double negatives — in Spanish, they’re your friends! 🫂
If you're learning how to say no in Spanish and want to sound more natural, this video is a must-watch! 🎯
👉 Check out this TikTok by @speakspanishfaster, where he shares several real, native alternatives to no that you can use in everyday situations.
🗣️ Short, expressive, and super useful — perfect for students who want to go beyond textbook Spanish and speak with confidence! 💪🇪🇸
🧊 Estoy bien, gracias. – I’m good, thanks
😵💫 Uf, qué va... – No way...
✋ Paso. – I’ll pass
🚷 No es lo mío. – Not my thing
🎭 Me encantaría, pero no puedo. – I’d love to, but I can’t
Try them next time someone asks you something you really don’t want to do 😏.
Ready to level up your Spanish sass? 💅
Check out our reel with fun ways to say to no way inspired by Taylor Swift-style rejections 💃🎶:
▶️ Watch the video on Instagram @soyguiri
| 🧠 Spanish | 💬 English |
|---|---|
| No | No |
| Nada | Nothing |
| Nadie | Nobody |
| Ningún / ninguna | Not any / none |
| No, gracias | No, thank you |
| Qué va | No way |
| Paso | I’ll pass |
| No es lo mío | Not my thing |
Now that you know when to use 'me' and 'yo', let’s test your knowledge with a quick quiz! Answer the following questions based on what you’ve just learned. Ready?
Which one of these no alternatives will YOU use next time? 😏
Do you say qué va, paso, or do you stick with no, gracias?
👇 Drop your favourite in the comments!
And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram for more fun Spanish tips! 📲