Meaning
To decline an offer or suggestion.
Cultural Background
Brazilians often avoid saying 'rejeito' directly to avoid appearing rude. They use 'vou pensar' (I'll think about it) as a polite way to decline. In Portugal, 'recusar' is often preferred over 'rejeitar' in professional emails as it sounds slightly more professional and less aggressive. In formal Angolan Portuguese, 'rejeitar' is used with high authority, often in government or official administrative contexts. Similar to Portugal, the use of 'declinar' is seen as a sign of high education and status when turning down an invitation or offer.
Softening the blow
In business, always start with 'Agradeço a oferta, mas...' before you 'rejeita a proposta'.
Gender Agreement
Always remember: Proposta = Feminine. Use 'rejeitada'.
Meaning
To decline an offer or suggestion.
Softening the blow
In business, always start with 'Agradeço a oferta, mas...' before you 'rejeita a proposta'.
Gender Agreement
Always remember: Proposta = Feminine. Use 'rejeitada'.
Legal Context
If you hear 'rejeitar a denúncia' in the news, it means a judge dismissed a criminal charge.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'rejeitar'.
Ontem, a diretoria __________ a proposta de aumento salarial.
The subject 'a diretoria' is singular, and the time marker 'ontem' requires the preterite tense.
Which sentence is correct?
How do you say 'The proposal was rejected'?
'Proposta' is feminine, so the participle must be 'rejeitada'.
Match the phrase to the most appropriate situation.
When would you say 'Rejeito liminarmente esta proposta'?
'Liminarmente' is a legal term meaning 'immediately/at the start'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Você aceitou o novo emprego? B: Não, o salário era muito baixo, então eu tive que __________.
Since the salary was low, the logical action is to reject the offer.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Rejeitar vs. Negar
Practice Bank
4 exercisesOntem, a diretoria __________ a proposta de aumento salarial.
The subject 'a diretoria' is singular, and the time marker 'ontem' requires the preterite tense.
How do you say 'The proposal was rejected'?
'Proposta' is feminine, so the participle must be 'rejeitada'.
When would you say 'Rejeito liminarmente esta proposta'?
'Liminarmente' is a legal term meaning 'immediately/at the start'.
A: Você aceitou o novo emprego? B: Não, o salário era muito baixo, então eu tive que __________.
Since the salary was low, the logical action is to reject the offer.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, 'rejeitar' often implies a more definitive or even harsh 'no' compared to 'recusar'.
Technically yes, but it sounds very strange. Use 'não quero' or 'recuso'.
You say 'Eu a rejeitei' (formal) or 'Eu rejeitei ela' (informal/common in Brazil).
It's an 'indecent proposal', often used as a joke or referring to the famous movie.
Yes, an ATM can 'rejeitar o cartão' (reject the card).
Yes, a referee can 'rejeitar um pedido de falta' (reject a foul claim).
The noun is 'rejeição' (rejection).
Yes, but 'recusar' is slightly more common in daily speech.
Yes, 'rejeitar uma ideia' is very common.
In some very specific medical contexts, 'rejeitar' can mean the body rejecting an organ or food, but it's not the common word for vomiting.
Related Phrases
Recusar uma oferta
synonymTo refuse an offer
Declinar um convite
similarTo decline an invitation
Aceitar uma proposta
contrastTo accept a proposal
Fazer uma contraproposta
builds onTo make a counter-proposal
Rejeitar liminarmente
specialized formTo reject immediately
