How to Say No in Twenty Languages

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By Daniel Rigney
You’ve probably heard the saying that if you want something done well, you should ask someone who’s already busy to do it. People who are busy are busy for a reason. They get things done.
I would add: Find someone who’s busy and who has trouble saying “no.”
If you’re frequently on the receiving end of such requests, and you’re already weary and heavy-laden but can’t seem to say no to new requests and demands -- even when you could politely refuse without fear of reprisal – I offer this handy and potentially life-saving  guide to burnout prevention.
Here’s how to say no in twenty languages:

Albanian              Jo

American             Nope, Uh-Uh, No way

Apache                 Dah

Arabic                   Lay, La or Laa

Basque                 Ez

Cantonese          Mhai’

Danish                  Jen

Farsi                       Nah

French                  Non

German               Nein

Hawaiian              ‘A’ ole

Hindi                      Naheen (and others)

Manchu               Waka

Maori                    Aka

Nepali                   Ahaa

Russian                 Nyet

Tagalog                 Hindi (po)

Tibetan                 Yo

Zulu                       Cha

Zuni                       ‘Ella

Or as Bartleby the Scrivener would say, “I prefer not to.”
 P.S.:  For these and 500 additional words for “no,” see  Jennifer's Language Page, from which I culled this small selection with permission.
Why not send this along to someone you know who's overcommitted and might benefit from it?
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