Hindi · Real conversations
Decline an invitation naturally in Hindi
A clear decline helps the host plan. Acknowledge the invitation, explain an existing commitment if you want to, or suggest a new time when you genuinely want to meet.
Three ways to say it
निमंत्रण के लिए धन्यवाद, लेकिन मैं नहीं आ सकता / सकती।nimantran ke liye dhanyavaad, lekin main nahin aa sakta / sakti.
Thanks for inviting me, but I can't come.
Give a clear thanks and decline without inventing a reason.
मेरा मन तो है, लेकिन पहले से कार्यक्रम तय है।mera man to hai, lekin pahle se kaaryakram tay hai.
I'd love to, but I already have plans.
Express interest while explaining that you already have plans.
इस बार नहीं आ पाऊँगा / पाऊँगी। क्या हम अगले हफ्ते मिल सकते हैं?is baar nahin aa paaunga / paaungi. kya ham agle hafte mil sakte hain?
I can't make it this time. Could we meet next week?
Decline this occasion and offer a specific opportunity to meet later.
Avoid translating word by word
English 'I can't make it' means you cannot attend, not that you cannot manufacture something. Use the complete attendance expression shown in the target language.
See the difference in context
A Saturday party invitation
क्या आप शनिवार को मेरी पार्टी में आ सकते हैं?kya aap shanivaar ko meri party mein aa sakte hain?
Can you come to my party on Saturday?
निमंत्रण के लिए धन्यवाद, लेकिन मैं नहीं आ सकता / सकती।nimantran ke liye dhanyavaad, lekin main nahin aa sakta / sakti.
Thanks for inviting me, but I can't come.
A dinner invitation that conflicts with plans
क्या आप कल साथ खाना खाना चाहेंगे / चाहेंगी?kya aap kal saath khaana khaana chaahenge / chaahengi?
Would you like to have dinner tomorrow?
मेरा मन तो है, लेकिन पहले से कार्यक्रम तय है।mera man to hai, lekin pahle se kaaryakram tay hai.
I'd love to, but I already have plans.
Your turn
You cannot attend this time, but you would like to meet. Decline and suggest meeting next week.
Reveal a sample reply
इस बार नहीं आ पाऊँगा / पाऊँगी। क्या हम अगले हफ्ते मिल सकते हैं?is baar nahin aa paaunga / paaungi. kya ham agle hafte mil sakte hain?
I can't make it this time. Could we meet next week?
This speaking goal in other languages
A note on speaking Hindi
These examples generally use respectful आप (aap). Familiar तुम (tum) changes the verb ending, and तू (tu) can sound too intimate or disrespectful in the wrong relationship. Where gender changes a first-person form, choose the version that describes the speaker.
Read the Devanagari alongside the romanization. Romanization is a reading aid rather than an exact description of every sound. Everyday Hindi can use familiar loanwords, while a literal English word order may sound unnatural.
