Meaning
no
In a sentence
No, oggi non posso uscire con voi.
No, I can't go out with you today.
Hai detto no alla sua proposta?
Did you say no to his proposal?
Per favore, no, non toccare quel bicchiere.
Please, no, don't touch that glass.
Usage notes
- Use 'no' for direct refusal; 'non' negates verbs. 'No' stands alone, 'non' needs a verb after it.
- Avoid overusing 'no' in formal writing; prefer 'non' + verb for clarity and politeness.
- In speech, 'no' can soften requests: 'No, grazie' (No, thank you) sounds gentler than just 'grazie.'