Austrians And The Art Of Saying No

Although Austria and Germany share the same official language, there are notable differences in the words and phrases used in each country. One such difference is the way to say no. In German, the word for no is nein, which may be familiar to English speakers from pop culture depictions of Germany. However, there are other ways to express negation in German, such as nicht for verbs and kein for objects. Austrians also have their own slang and phrases, such as Oida, which can be used to express any emotion, and Leiwand, which means great or amazing.

How to say 'no' politely in Austrian

How to say no politely in Austrian

Saying no can be difficult, especially if you don't want to upset the other person or you're worried about how they will react. However, it's important to remember that saying no can sometimes be the kindest and best thing you can do for yourself and others. It's all about setting boundaries and prioritising your time and energy. Here are some ways to say no politely in Austrian:

Express Gratitude and Regret

This approach combines gratitude with a gentle no. It leaves the door open for future opportunities and maintains a friendly tone:

• "I'm flattered you asked me, aber ich kann einfach nicht jetzt. Vielleicht nächsten Monat." ("I'm flattered you asked me, but I simply can't right now. Maybe next month.")
• "Ich passe dieses Mal, aber lass es mich fürs nächste Mal wissen." ("I'll pass this time, but let me know next time.")
• "Danke, dass du an mich gedacht hast, aber ich bin im Moment nicht verfügbar. Ich werde es in Zukunft sein." ("Thanks for thinking of me, but I'm not available right now. I will be in the future.")
• "Ich schätze die Einladung, aber ich muss dieses Mal leider ablehnen." ("I appreciate the invitation, but I unfortunately have to decline this time.")
• "Es tut mir leid, dass ich nicht teilnehmen kann, aber danke, dass du an mich gedacht hast." ("I'm sorry I won't be able to attend, but thank you for thinking of me.")
• "Ich muss nein sagen, aber bitte berücksichtige mich in Zukunft wieder." ("I have to say no, but please consider me again in the future.")
• "Leider kann ich dieses Mal nicht teilnehmen, aber ich schätze das Angebot wirklich." ("Unfortunately, I can't participate this time, but I really appreciate the offer.")

Emphasise Scheduling Conflicts or Lack of Availability

These responses focus on scheduling conflicts or a busy calendar. They are straightforward yet polite:

• "Ich habe andere Dinge im Kalender, also kann ich nicht." ("I have other things on the calendar, so I can't.")
• "Ich habe diese Woche noch ein anderes Engagement, aber danke für die Einladung." ("I have another commitment this week, but thank you for the invitation.")
• "Mein aktueller Zeitplan lässt dies nicht zu, aber melde dich in einem Monat wieder." ("My current schedule doesn't allow this, but check back in a month.")
• "Ich bin mit anderen Projekten voll ausgelastet, aber im nächsten Quartal bin ich frei." ("I'm fully booked with other projects, but I'm free next quarter.")
• "Entschuldigung, ich kann im Moment keine neuen Verpflichtungen eingehen." ("Sorry, I'm not able to take on new commitments at the moment.")
• "Mein Kalender ist voll, aber ich werde dich wissen lassen, wenn sich das ändert." ("My calendar is full, but I'll let you know if that changes.")
• "Danke, dass du an mich gedacht hast, aber ich bin diese Woche nicht verfügbar." ("Thank you for thinking of me, but I'm unavailable this week.")
• "Ich setze mich aus, da ich andere Pläne habe, aber danke." ("I'll sit this one out since I have other plans, but thanks.")

Focus on Prioritising Other Goals or Projects

These responses convey that you are prioritising other commitments or projects:

• "Ich widme meine Zeit im Moment anderen Dingen und kann mich nicht darauf konzentrieren." ("I'm dedicating my time to other things right now and can't focus on that.")
• "Ich verfolge im Moment andere Dinge, aber vielleicht priorisiere ich das später." ("I'm pursuing other things right now, but I might prioritise this down the line.")
• "Ich halte mich an den Plan, den ich bereits erstellt habe." ("I'm committed to the plan I've already created.")
• "Entschuldigung, meine Energie ist im Moment woanders." ("I'm sorry, my energy is focused elsewhere at the moment.")
• "Ich bin mit bestehenden Prioritäten voll ausgelastet." ("I'm fully booked with existing priorities.")
• "Ich muss mich auf meine aktuelle Arbeitslast konzentrieren." ("I need to stay focused on my current workload.")
• "Ich beschränke mich im Moment auf wenige Verpflichtungen." ("I'm narrowing my focus to just a few commitments at the moment.")
• "Ich priorisiere meine aktuellen Pläne über alles andere." ("I'm prioritising my current plans above everything else.")

Acknowledge Being at Max Capacity

These responses acknowledge a sense of being overextended or having too many obligations. They can be useful for setting boundaries:

• "Entschuldigung, aber ich bin schon überlastet." ("My apologies, but I'm overextended.")
• "Ich habe im Moment schon zu viele Verpflichtungen." ("I already have too many obligations at the moment.")
• "Ich habe schon zu viel auf meinem Teller." ("I have too much on my plate already.")
• "Ich bin an anderen Projekten beteiligt, die all meine Zeit in Anspruch nehmen." ("I'm involved in other projects that are taking up all my time.")
• "Ich habe dafür gerade nicht die Kapazität." ("I don't have the bandwidth for that right now.")
• "Ich kann dem nicht die nötige Aufmerksamkeit schenken." ("I'm not able to give this the attention it deserves.")
• "Ich habe dafür nicht den nötigen mentalen Raum." ("I don't have the mental space for this.")

Indicate Lack of Comfort or Fit

These phrases are useful for politely refusing something that doesn't feel like a good fit or makes you uncomfortable:

• "Ich fühle mich dabei nicht wohl." ("This doesn't feel right to me.")
• "Ich möchte mich an diesem Punkt zurückziehen." ("I want to take a step back at this point.")
• "Ich glaube nicht, dass ich die richtige Person dafür bin." ("I don't think I'm the best person for this.")
• "Ich schätze die Gelegenheit, aber es passt einfach nicht zu mir." ("I appreciate the opportunity, but it's just not the right fit for me.")
• "Das passt für mich nicht." ("This doesn't sit right with me.")
• "Das entspricht nicht meinen Fähigkeiten." ("This isn't the best fit for my skillset.")

Remember, it's okay to say no without providing a detailed explanation. A short and simple refusal can help you appear calm and decisive. Additionally, Austrians value punctuality and planning, so if you need to decline an invitation, it's best to do so in advance rather than at the last minute.

How to say 'no' firmly in Austrian

How to say no firmly in Austrian

Although Austria and Germany share an official language, there are some differences in the words and phrases used in each country. Here are some ways to say "no" firmly in Austrian:

• Nein: This is the most common way to say "no" in German. It can be used to answer a simple yes or no question. For example, "Hast du Hunger?" ("Are you hungry?") "Nein" ("No").
• Nicht: "Nicht" means "not" in German and is used to negate verbs. For example, "Ich rauche nicht." ("I do not smoke.").
• Kein/Keine: "Kein" or "keine" is used to negate nouns in German. For example, "Ich habe keine Zeit." ("I don't have time.").
• Auf keinen Fall: This phrase means "in no case" or "definitely not" in English. For example, "Auf keinen Fall lasse ich dich alleine dort." ("There is no way I'm leaving you alone there.").
• Auf gar keinen Fall: This phrase means "under no circumstances" and is a strong way to express a firm "no". For example, "Auf gar keinen Fall stehe ich um 5 Uhr morgens auf." ("There is no way I'm getting up at 5 am.").
• Verboten: This word means "forbidden" in German and is often used on signs with the word "absolut" ("absolutely"). For example, "Im Park ist Rauchen verboten." ("Smoking is forbidden in the park.").
• Absolut nicht: This phrase means "absolutely not" and is used to express a strong refusal. For example, "Absolut nicht. Ich werde beschäftigt sein." ("Absolutely not. I'll be busy.").
• Überhaupt nicht: This phrase means "not at all" and is used to emphasize a negative statement. For example, "Ich habe überhaupt keine Lust." ("I really don't feel like it at all.").
• Gar nicht: Similar to "überhaupt nicht", this phrase means "not at all" and expresses a strong disagreement or refusal. For example, "Gar nicht. Ich mag es nicht." ("Not at all. I don't like it.").

How to decline something in Austrian

Although Austria and Germany share the same official language, there are significant differences in the words and phrases used in each country. When it comes to declining something in Austrian, here are some ways to do so:

Using "Nein" and Variations:

• Nein is the standard way to say "no" in German, which is the official language of Austria.
• Nee or Nö: These are informal variations of "nein," commonly used by younger people in the North of Germany.
• "Nich" or "Nix": This contraction of "nicht" (not) is associated with the Berlin accent.
• Jein: A combination of "ja" (yes) and "nein," used when you want to convey hesitation or ambiguity.

Using "Nicht" and "Kein(e)":

In German, the word "nicht" is used to negate actions or verbs, while "kein(e)" is used to negate nouns.

For example:

• "Ich rauche nicht" (I do not smoke).
• "Ich habe keine Zeit" (I do not have time).

Using Phrases for Polite Declination:

• "Nein danke" (no thank you) is a polite way to decline something offered to you.
• "Leider" means "unfortunately" and can be used to politely decline plans or express regret.
• "Es tut mir leid, aber ich kann nicht" (I'm sorry, but I can't) is a polite and formal way to decline.
• "Leider kann ich am Dienstag nicht" (Unfortunately, I can't on Tuesday).

Using Strong and Emphatic Phrases:

For more forceful and emphatic ways to decline:

• "Auf gar keinen Fall" (Under no circumstances).
• "Auf keinen Fall. Ich werde beschäftigt sein" (Absolutely not. I'll be busy).
• "Verboten" (Forbidden) often appears on signs and is used to indicate something is not allowed.
• "Das ist hier nicht erlaubt" (That's not allowed here).

Remember that body language also plays a role in communication. Just like English speakers, Germans often shake their heads to express negation.

How to say 'no' in Austrian when you're hesitant

German is the official language of Austria, and the German word for "no" is "nein". However, there are different ways to express hesitation or uncertainty when saying "no" in German, which can be used in Austrian contexts.

One way to express hesitation is to use the word jein, a combination of "ja" (yes) and "nein" (no). This is often used as a joke, and is usually followed by an explanation. For example:

Anja: "Bist du müde?" (Are you tired?)

Johann: "Jein. Ich bin ein bisschen müde, aber ich will noch nicht schlafen." (Yes and no. I'm a little tired, but I don't want to sleep yet.)

Another way to express hesitation is to use the phrase ich glaube nicht, which means "I don't think so". This is often used when you are unsure about something. For example:

Anja: "Ist es kalt draußen?" (Is it cold outside?)

Johann: "Ich glaube nicht." (I don't think so.)

If you want to be more polite when saying "no" in Austrian/German, you can provide an explanation for your refusal, rather than just saying "nein". For example, you could say:

"Es tut mir leid, aber ich kann nicht." (I'm sorry, but I can't.)

Alternatively, you can use the word lieber, which means "rather". For example:

"Ich gehe lieber nicht in die Kneipe." (I'd rather not go to the bar.)

So, while the standard way to say "no" in Austrian/German is "nein", there are various ways to express hesitation or uncertainty, depending on the context and your relationship with the person you're speaking to.

How to say 'no' in Austrian when you're sure

How to Say No in Austrian When You're Sure

If you want to say "no" in Austrian German, the translation of the English "no" is “nein”. This is the most common way to say "no" in German and is used in both Austria and Germany. To pronounce "nein" correctly, think of the number "nine". The English "nine" and the German "nein" sound very similar.

If you want to say "no" in a more emphatic way, you can try adding a quantifying adverb such as “gar”, “überhaupt”, or “absolut” before "nicht" ("not"). For example:

• "Gar nicht" means "not at all".
• "Überhaupt nicht" means "not at all" and can also be used with "kein/e".
• "Absolut nicht" means "absolutely not" and can also be used with "kein/e".

You can also say:

• "Auf keinen Fall", which means "in no case" or "definitely not".
• "Auf gar keinen Fall", which means "under no circumstances".

If you want to be very firm, you can use phrases like:

• "Das ist hier nicht erlaubt" (That's not allowed here).
• "Verboten" (Forbidden).
• "Nein. Ich will nicht" (No. I don't want to).

In addition to "nein", there are some other ways to say "no" in Austrian German that are more informal and may be used in specific regions or by certain age groups:

• "Nee" is used in the North of Germany and among younger people.
• "Nö" is the most informal way of saying "no" and is commonly used by young German speakers.
• "Nich" is associated with Berlin and its accent.

When saying "no" politely in Austrian German, it is common to provide an explanation for the refusal, rather than just saying "nein" on its own. You can also use phrases like "entschuldigung" (excuse me) or "tut mir leid" (I'm sorry) to soften the refusal.

Frequently asked questions