Spanish Phrase
No, no voy a poder.
Meaning
A firm but polite way to say “No, I’m not going to be able to.” It signals that the speaker cannot do something that has been asked or suggested, often used in the near future.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to decline an invitation, refuse a request, or explain that you won’t be able to attend an event that’s coming up soon.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Nonovoyapoder
Double "No"
The first "No" works as an interjection ("No!"), the second "no" negates the verb phrase, making the refusal emphatic.
Periphrastic Future (ir + a + infinitive)
"Voy a" + infinitive expresses a near‑future action, similar to "going to" in English.
Infinitive "poder"
"Poder" means "to be able to"; when used in the infinitive after "voy a" it conveys future ability (or lack thereof).
🗨In Conversation
¿Quieres venir a la fiesta mañana?
Do you want to come to the party tomorrow?
No, no voy a poder.
No, I'm not going to be able to.
✕Common Mistakes
No, no voy a ser.
Use "poder" (to be able) for ability, not "ser" (to be).
No, no voy a poder ayer.
When speaking about the past, use "podría" or "pude" instead of the future construction.
No no voy a poder.
Missing the comma can make the sentence sound rushed; the pause after the first "No" is natural.
↔Alternatives
Lo siento, no podré.
I'm sorry, I won't be able to.
No podré.
I won't be able to.
Desafortunadamente, no voy a poder.
Unfortunately, I’m not going to be able to.
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries, refusing directly can be softened with "lo siento" or "desafortunadamente". The double "no" adds emphasis without sounding rude, and native speakers often follow it with a brief apology or an explanation.