How to Say No Politely in English | Requests & Invitations

Learn how to say no politely in English without sounding rude. Practise English conversation for declining invitations, turning down requests, giving a short honest reason, and staying clear when someone asks again. Join us for a practical English podcast with everyday conversations, word-highlighted subtitles, and pauses for your own speaking practice. If you keep adding explanations or say “maybe” when you mean “no,” this episode will help you find a friendly, clear reply. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL PRACTISE • Saying no to a request or invitation politely • Giving a brief, true reason without a long excuse • Choosing between “I’m not available,” “I already have plans,” and “I’d rather not” • Responding when someone says, “It’ll only take ten minutes” • Using a warm tone while keeping your answer clear • Trying two new situations before hearing example answers USEFUL ENGLISH PHRASES “Thanks for asking, but I can’t this time.” “I’m not available.” “I already have plans.” “I won’t be able to…” “Thanks for asking, but I’d rather not.” CHAPTERS 00:00 Say no politely without sounding rude 01:14 Why “maybe” can leave the wrong message 02:49 A friendly, clear no 04:13 Saying you’re not available 06:00 “I won’t be able to” and repeated requests 07:23 Practice: stay clear when someone asks again 09:27 Practice: decline an invitation 10:09 Saying “I’d rather not” 11:45 How your tone changes a refusal 12:08 Try your own warm, clear reply 13:52 Final speaking challenge 15:26 Compare your answers 16:21 Your turn: write a polite refusal YOUR TURN Write one short refusal in the comments: “Thanks for asking, but I can’t ___ this time.” Replace the space with an action such as help, come, stay, or join. A fictional situation is welcome. Subscribe to Riva English for practical English you can use in real life. If this conversation was useful, like the video and share it with a learning partner. Try answering the practice requests together. #LearnEnglish #EnglishConversation #EnglishPodcast