no way Jose

English

Alternative forms

no way José; no way, José; no way, Jose

Etymology

Uncertain. Probably invented for the rhyme. First attested in 1978.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /nəʊ ˈweɪ həʊˌseɪ/, /- həʊˌzeɪ/
Audio (US) (file)

Adverb

no way Jose (not comparable)

(colloquial) No way; absolutely not.

Usage notes

Used an intensified form of no in refusal or denial.

Synonyms

Antonyms

okey dokey, artichokey

Translations

Translations

Polish: za chińskiego boga (pl) (literally “for a Chinese god”)
Portuguese: nem que a vaca tussa (pt) (literally “not even if the cow coughs”), nem morto (literally “not even dead”)
Spanish: ni de broma (es), ni de coña (es), ni de guasa (es), ni harto de vino
Swedish: icke sa Nicke (sv)

Further reading

Jonathon Green (2024) “no way!”, in Green’s Dictionary of Slang

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