How to Decline a Job Offer Politely in Portuguese — Practice

Thank the employer before sharing your decision

Use Agradeço a oportunidade (I appreciate the opportunity) to acknowledge the offer. Then say Decidi não aceitar a proposta (I decided not to accept the offer). The verb decidir makes the decision clear without requiring a long explanation.

If you are sending a message, include the role or company name so the recipient can identify which offer you mean.

Give a brief reason only if you want to

You may name a broad reason, such as outra oportunidade (another opportunity) or o momento não é adequado (the timing is not right). You do not owe a detailed account of private circumstances.

Avoid writing that you might accept later unless you mean it. If you want to stay in touch, say that directly and do not imply a future opening is guaranteed.

Close on a professional note

Agradeço novamente and desejo sucesso à equipe are warm ways to close. Keep the message concise and send it through the channel used for the offer unless the employer requested another process.

Once you have declined, the employer may continue with another candidate. A prompt reply helps everyone plan.

Remember: Thank the employer, state that you are declining, and give only the explanation you are comfortable sharing.

Check your understanding

Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.

Recall the Portuguese, then say it

Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.

1. I appreciate the opportunity and the team's time during the process.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Agradeço a oportunidade e o tempo da equipe durante o processo.

2. After reviewing the offer, I decided not to accept the position.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Depois de analisar a proposta, decidi não aceitar a vaga.

3. I accepted another opportunity that is more aligned with my goals.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Aceitei outra oportunidade que está mais alinhada aos meus objetivos.

4. At this time, I won't be able to move forward with the position.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Neste momento, não vou conseguir seguir com a vaga.

5. Thank you again, and I wish the team success.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Agradeço novamente e desejo sucesso à equipe.

6. I hope we can stay in touch about future opportunities.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Espero que possamos manter contato para oportunidades futuras.

Make the phrase useful to you

Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.

Thank the employer, state that you are declining, and give only the explanation you are comfortable sharing.

Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.

Sources and your next lesson

This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our How to Decline a Job Offer Politely in Portuguese lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.

To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.