How to Say ‘I can't on Thursday.’ in Mexican Spanish
El jueves no puedo.
ehl HWEH-behs noh Pweh-doh
[ehl HWEH-behs noh Pweh-doh]
🇲🇽 In Mexico: Mexicans often soften a flat refusal like this, for example Fíjese que el jueves no puedo "The thing is, I can't on Thursday." Offering another day right after keeps it polite.
Phrase Breakdown
El jueves
ehl HWEH-behs
On Thursday
Put the day first for emphasis. The J sounds like an English H: 'el HWE-ves'.
El jueves trabajo.
On Thursday I work.
Words in this phrase
El
[ehl]
on (with days)
Before a day of the week, 'el' means 'on'.
Abrimos el domingo.
We open on Sunday.
jueves
[HWEH-behs]
Thursday
Day after Wednesday; used with 'el' for a specific day.
El jueves vamos al mercado.
On Thursday we go to the market.
no puedo.
noh Pweh-doh
I can't.
Stress 'PUE': 'no-PWE-do'.
Hoy no puedo.
I can't today.
Words in this phrase
no
[noh]
not
Used to make a word or group of words negative.
No voy a ir.
I am not going.
puedo
[Pweh-doh]
I can
Auxiliary verb used to indicate ability, possibility, or permission.
¡Puedo ayudarte si quieres!
I can help you if you want!
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