Practise saying no politely in Spanish, with an AI that grades you

A hard-level scenario at a carne asada where your friend won't take no for an answer: one more tequila, one more hour, a favour, a loan. Refuse kindly and make it stick.

Saying no is one of the hardest things to do well in a second language. In Mexico a flat no can sound cold, so people soften it: they thank, they give a reason (es que…), they offer something else (mejor otro día, ¿qué tal si…?) and they keep it light. Learners tend to swing between agreeing to everything and refusing too bluntly. The middle path needs the conditional (me encantaría, pero…), a few set phrases and the confidence to repeat yourself kindly.

Juntos rates "Cómo decir que no" hard: the AI plays Beto, an insistent friend at a carne asada in Monterrey who keeps pushing: one more tequila, staying out late, helping him move on Saturday, lending him money. He only accepts a polite no that comes with a reason or an alternative, so a curt refusal or a vague a lo mejor just brings another round of pressure. It draws on the conditional, the subjunctive (ojalá pudiera) and por vs. para for your reasons.

10 phrases you'll need

Spanish	English
Ya no, gracias. Mañana tengo que manejar temprano.	No more for me, thanks. I have to drive early tomorrow.
Mejor me tomo un refresco.	I'd rather have a soft drink.
Me encantaría quedarme, pero ya me tengo que ir.	I'd love to stay, but I have to go now.
Ahorita no puedo, pero ¿qué tal el próximo fin de semana?	I can't right now, but how about next weekend?
El sábado no puedo ayudarte con la mudanza, pero el domingo sí.	I can't help you move on Saturday, but I can on Sunday.
Te puedo prestar mi camioneta, eso sí.	I can lend you my pickup, though.
Ojalá pudiera, pero este mes ando corto de dinero.	I wish I could, but I'm short of money this month.
Prefiero no prestar dinero, ni siquiera a los amigos. No es nada personal.	I'd rather not lend money, not even to friends. It's nothing personal.
Te lo digo en serio: ya no, gracias.	I mean it: no more, thanks.
No te enojes, me la pasé increíble. ¡Nos vemos pronto!	Don't be upset, I had an amazing time. See you soon!

How the AI session works

You open the Cómo decir que no scenario (turn down one more tequila, a favour and a loan, politely) and the AI takes the other role. In the app this scenario is rated hard, which sets the vocabulary, sentence length and pace the AI starts with. You can also choose easy, medium or hard for any scenario, so the same conversation grows with you from A2 to B2.

Every message you send is scored 0–100 for grammar, vocabulary, fit with your level and how quickly you replied. Tap the score and you see one clear piece of feedback and the specific corrections: what you wrote, what a native speaker would have written, and why. Mistakes that keep recurring are filed into your Error Bank and come back in spaced-repetition reviews.

Prefer to speak? AI Call mode runs the same scenario by voice: tap the mic, say your line, and the AI transcribes it, replies out loud in Latin American Spanish and grades your spoken turn. For a situation like this one, doing it by ear is the closest thing to the real conversation.

3 mistakes learners make here

No quiero. → Gracias, pero ya no. Mañana tengo que manejar. A bare no quiero sounds cold, even rude. Thanks plus a short reason (es que…) is what makes a refusal stick without hurting anyone.
Ojalá puedo, pero no. → Ojalá pudiera, pero no puedo. For a wish that isn't going to come true, ojalá takes the imperfect subjunctive: ojalá pudiera (I wish I could).
Me gustas mucho, Beto, pero no. → Me caes muy bien, Beto, pero no. Me gustas is romantic. For a friend you like, say me caes bien.

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Questions people ask

How do you say no politely in Spanish?

Rarely with a bare no. Thank the person, give a short reason and offer something instead: gracias, pero ya no, es que mañana tengo que manejar temprano. ¿Qué tal si nos vemos el domingo? A reason plus an alternative is what makes a no sound friendly in Mexico.

How do I refuse another drink in Spanish?

Ya no, gracias, voy a manejar, or ahorita no, gracias, ya tomé suficiente. Asking for a refresco or an agua mineral instead makes the no easier to accept.