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September 25, 2025 4 mins

In this English lesson you’ll learn five common ways to say that you don’t want to do something. Native speakers use these short and natural expressions all the time when they’re tired, unmotivated, or just not interested. By the end of this lesson you’ll know how to recognize them and use them yourself in everyday conversations.

In this lesson you’ll hear examples of:

I don’t want to – the most direct way to say no.

I don’t feel like it – when you simply don’t have the desire.

I’d rather not – a more polite refusal.

I can’t be bothered – a casual way to say you don’t have the energy.

I don’t feel up to it – when you’re too tired or unwell to do something.

I’ll give you simple definitions, clear example sentences, and helpful pronunciation so you can feel confident using these phrases the next time you need to say no in English.

I hope you enjoy this English lesson about not wanting to do something! Have a great day!

Note: This is the audio portion of a Youtube English lesson which you can watch right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhr1E3VJnV8 or by searching Youtube for, "Bob the Canadian I Do Not Want To"

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