How to say no in Italian: 15 different ways (2024)

Different Ways to Say no in Italian

Even in Italian, it can be difficult to say no at times, afterlearning how to say yes, you can learn how to say no in Italian.

As mentioned, to say no in Italian, simply say “no,grazie” (no, thank you) to answer negatively but respectfully.

But there are also various Italian alternatives. Let’s see how to use Italian phrases like non penso/non credo,macché, or neanche per sogno!

Common ways to say no in Italian

Non penso/ Non credo

These two Italianexpressions are mostly used to show doubts or concern about a condition or what could happen.

For example:

Mi sa di no

Use “mi sa di no” when you’re not sure about the answer, but youthink it will be a negative one.

Example:

Ne dubito (proprio)

When you wish to express doubt or the sensation that something is about to happen or did not happen in Italian, you can use one of these expressions.

Example:

Non è possibile

Use this phrase if you want toexpress surprise, sorrow, or disappointment for anything that happened to you or someone else.

For example,

Temo di no

Use “Temo di no” if you want to expressregretfor something you’re not responsible for.

Example:

Magari

This Italian phrase is commonly used when you want to express hope or a wish for something that will or will not happen.

Example:

How to say no in Italian: formal expressions

La ringrazio, ma devo rifiutare

This quite respectful phrase can be used to address someone you don’t know well and who is likely older than you.

In this scenario, you’re expressing gratitude for what they’re offering you, but you’re “forced” to decline the offer due to unique circ*mstances.

Example:

Sarà per la prossima volta

To avoid looking impolite, you canuse good manners to decline whatever they are offering you, postponing it until the next time you see each other.

For example:

Grazie, come se avessi accettato

Thisis an extremely polite wayto say no in Italian when you want todeclinesomething offered to you by someone you hardly know.

For example:

How to say no in Italian: informal expressions

Macché

One of the most well-known Italian idioms for saying no, you can use it to express a deep sense of frustration.

Non ci penso proprio

In this case, your goal is to point out that you aren’t consideringwhat they told you to do.

For example:

Neanche per sogno/ Neanche per idea

Also, in this case, you can use one of these two phrases to say no in Italian when you are absolutely convinced not to complete somethingyou were suggested to do.

Example:

Scordatelo

This Italian way of saying no may sound harsh because it implies that you would never consider the idea of helping someone with something without even thinking about it.

For example:

When ”No” means ”Yes” in Italian

Come no

This is a very popular Italian expression that is used when you need to confirm something definitively.

Question Tags

Question tags are generally associated with English grammar, but they can be translated into the Italian language in a variety of ways, one of which is by adding the word “no” followed by a question mark to the conclusion of your statement.

Learning Polite Ways to Say No

As you can see, there are many differentways to say no in Italian.

Some are rather common in daily conversation, while others are more uncommon or restricted to a small context of use.

Furthermore, keep in mind that certain phrases should be used carefully because they can be misunderstood (like, “Scordatelo!” and “Neanche per idea!“).

So, remember topay attention to how and when using them!