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How to Say ‘I can't right now, sorry.’ in Spain Spanish

Ahora no puedo, lo siento.

ah-OH-rah noh PWEH-doh loh SYEHN-toh

[ah-OH-rah noh PWEH-doh loh SYEHN-toh]

Phrase Breakdown

Ahora no puedo,

ah-OH-rah noh PWEH-doh

I can't right now,

Remember that the 'h' is silent. Pause briefly at the comma.

Example

Ahora no puedo, estoy trabajando.

I can't right now, I'm working.

Words in this phrase

Ahora

[ah-OH-rah]

now

At the present time or moment.

Example

Debes ir ahora.

You must go now.

no

[noh]

not

A word used to negate or make something negative.

Example

No nos vamos a la fiesta.

We are not going to the party.

puedo

[PWEH-doh]

I can

First person singular of poder; expresses ability or possibility.

Example

Puedo reunirme contigo el jueves.

I can meet with you on Thursday.

lo siento.

loh SYEHN-toh

I'm sorry.

This is the standard apology. Literally it means 'I feel it'. Stress SIEN: lo-SIEN-to.

Example

Lo siento, llego tarde.

I'm sorry, I'm late.

Words in this phrase

lo

[loh]

it (in a set phrase)

Pronoun that is part of the idiom 'pasarlo bien'; not translated literally.

Example

Lo pasamos genial.

We had a great time.

siento

[SYEHN-toh]

I'm sorry (lo siento)

From 'sentir'; with 'lo' forms 'I'm sorry'.

Example

Lo siento mucho.

I'm very sorry.

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