Saying No Politely
Use these phrases to politely say no to invitations or offers while maintaining good relationships and leaving the door open for future plans.
Key Phrases
Nei ellers takk, det går bra.
casualNo thanks, I'm good.
A common everyday way to decline a small offer, like a cup of coffee or a snack.
Tusen takk for tilbudet, men jeg må nok takke nei.
neutralThank you so much for the offer, but I will probably have to decline.
A standard, safe way to decline an invitation from a colleague or acquaintance.
Det var veldig hyggelig av deg, men jeg kan dessverre ikke.
politeThat was very nice of you, but unfortunately I can't.
Very polite; good for more formal situations or people you do not know well.
Så utrolig kjipt, men jeg kan faktisk ikke i dag.
casualSuch a huge bummer, but I actually can't today.
"Kjipt" is a very common colloquial word for "too bad" or "a bummer".
Det er veldig synd, for jeg vil gjerne bli med.
neutralIt is a great pity, because I would love to join.
"Synd" means "a pity" or "a shame"; it softens the rejection by showing true interest.
Jeg har altfor mye å gjøre på jobben akkurat nå.
casualI have way too much to do at work right now.
Use this with friends when you are stressed and need to vent slightly.
Beklager, men jeg må jobbe overtid fordi vi har en viktig frist.
politeI apologize, but I have to work overtime because we have an important deadline.
Polite and gives a clear, professional reason for saying no.
Jeg er helt utslitt, så jeg må bare slappe av i kveld.
casualI am completely exhausted, so I just have to relax tonight.
Honest and direct; perfect for close friends or friendly colleagues.
Jeg har hatt en lang uke, så jeg trenger å hvile litt.
neutralI have had a long week, so I need to rest a bit.
A very acceptable and relatable excuse in Norwegian work culture.
Hva med at vi heller tar en kaffe neste uke?
casualHow about we rather grab a coffee next week?
"Heller" means "rather" or "instead", which is very common in suggestions.
Passer det bedre for deg at vi møtes en annen dag?
politeDoes it suit you better that we meet another day?
A polite way to negotiate a new time without forcing the issue.
Kan vi kanskje utsette det til over helgen?
neutralCan we maybe postpone it until after the weekend?
"Utsette" means to postpone or delay.
Kan jeg tenke litt på det og si ifra til deg senere?
politeCan I think about it a bit and let you know later?
"Å si ifra" is a very common phrase meaning "to let someone know".
Nei takk, jeg har akkurat spist, så jeg er kjempe-mett.
casualNo thanks, I have just eaten, so I am super full.
Adding "kjempe" as a prefix is a standard way to emphasize adjectives.
Nei takk, men det ser virkelig deilig ut!
politeNo thank you, but it looks truly delicious!
Complimenting the food softens the rejection significantly.
Jeg setter pris på at du spør, men det passer litt dårlig nå.
neutralI appreciate that you ask, but it is a slightly bad time now.
A polite but firm way to say no to requests for favors.