Home/Vocabulary/“No, thank you”
A1How to saynyet spasíba

How to say “No, thank you” in Russian

The words are simple. The difficulty is that one refusal is often heard as politeness.

Quick answer

Нет, спаси́бо.

nyet spasíba — and why one refusal is often not enough

The options

Нет, спаси́бо.No, thank you.
Спаси́бо, не на́до.Thanks, there’s no need.
Спаси́бо, я сыт / сыта́.Thank you, I’m full.
Мне доста́точно.That’s enough for me.
Спаси́бо, в друго́й раз.Thanks, another time.

One no is not a no

A Russian host will offer again after a first refusal, because a single нет is read as not wanting to impose. To actually stop the offers, give a reason: Спаси́бо, я сыт, Я за рулём, Мне нельзя́ сла́дкое. Reasons are accepted immediately.

Softening a refusal

Спаси́бо, не на́до is the gentlest all-purpose version. В друго́й раз (another time) keeps the door open. And Я бы с удово́льствием, но… — I’d love to, but — is the standard way to decline an invitation without offence.

What you hear back

То́чно не хоти́те?Are you sure you don’t want any?
Ну хоть немно́жко!Just a little bit!
Как хоти́те.As you wish.

Typical mistakes

Не хочу́. — on its own

Спаси́бо, не на́до.

A bare “I don’t want” sounds abrupt.

Я по́лный.

Я сыт / сыта́.

по́лный describes your build, not a full stomach.

Check yourself

Which actually stops the offers?

A concrete reason is accepted at once.

Want it all in one place?

Russian Basics has Cyrillic, the cases and 1,000 words in one PDF — stress marked on every word, exercises with answers.

Get the guide — $19