Hindi · Real conversations
Decline an offer naturally in Hindi
A polite refusal can be brief. Thank the person, answer clearly, and add a reason only when it is useful and true.
Three ways to say it
नहीं, धन्यवाद। मुझे कुछ नहीं चाहिए।nahin, dhanyavaad. mujhe kuchh nahin chaahiye.
No, thanks. I'm fine.
Decline a simple offer without adding an explanation.
धन्यवाद, लेकिन मैं खा चुका / चुकी हूँ।dhanyavaad, lekin main kha chuka / chuki hoon.
Thanks, but I've already eaten.
Give a real reason for declining food.
आपकी मेहरबानी है, लेकिन मैं संभाल लूँगा / लूँगी।aapki mehrbaani hai, lekin main sambhaal loonga / loongi.
That's kind of you, but I can manage.
Acknowledge an offer of assistance while explaining that you can manage.
Avoid translating word by word
English 'I'm fine' may politely mean 'I don't need anything' in response to an offer. A literal statement about your health might leave the offer unanswered, so keep the refusal and thanks clear.
See the difference in context
Being offered another drink
क्या आप कुछ और पीना चाहेंगे / चाहेंगी?kya aap kuchh aur peena chaahenge / chaahengi?
Would you like another drink?
नहीं, धन्यवाद। मुझे कुछ नहीं चाहिए।nahin, dhanyavaad. mujhe kuchh nahin chaahiye.
No, thanks. I'm fine.
Being offered food after eating
क्या आप कुछ खाना चाहेंगे / चाहेंगी?kya aap kuchh khaana chaahenge / chaahengi?
Would you like something to eat?
धन्यवाद, लेकिन मैं खा चुका / चुकी हूँ।dhanyavaad, lekin main kha chuka / chuki hoon.
Thanks, but I've already eaten.
Your turn
Decline an offer of help. Thank the person and say that you can manage the task.
Reveal a sample reply
आपकी मेहरबानी है, लेकिन मैं संभाल लूँगा / लूँगी।aapki mehrbaani hai, lekin main sambhaal loonga / loongi.
That's kind of you, but I can manage.
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.
