no poder

to be unable to; not to be able to

→ no

phrase Very common #851

to be unable to; not to be able to Usually followed by an infinitive. The verb poder is conjugated as needed: no puedo, no puedes, no puede, etc. In the infinitive form, no poder often appears after verbs such as lamentar or sentir.

SP: Siento no poder ayudarte hoy.

EN: I'm sorry I can't help you today.

Él nadaba hasta no poder nadar más.

He swam until he couldn't swim anymore.

Nosotros lamentamos no poder aceptar su solicitud.

We regret that we cannot accept your request.

Es una lástima no poder encontrar al topo.

It's a shame we can't find the mole.

— Asuntos infernales (2002)

Lamentamos no poder ayudarle.

We’re sorry we can’t help you.

¿Tienes miedo de no poder?

Are you afraid you won't be able to?

— Замри-умри-воскресни! (1990)

La vida nunca es tan mala como para no poder ser peor.

Life is never so bad that it couldn't be worse.

Lo sentimos mucho por no poder ayudarlos.

We’re very sorry we couldn’t help you.

Dile que me perdone por no poder llevarla al baile.

Tell her to forgive me for not being able to take her to the dance.

— Atrápame si puedes (2002)

Me alegro de no poder ir.

I'm glad I can't go.

¿Qué te ha pasado de no poder tener una conversación normal?

What happened to you that you can't have a normal conversation?

— Zootopia 2 (2025)

Perdón por no poder juntarme contigo esta noche.

Sorry I can’t meet up with you tonight.

Tiene pinta de no poder hacer daño ni a una mosca.

He looks like he couldn't hurt a fly.

No poder hablar.

Not being able to speak.

— Jaula (2022)

¿Y de no poder hacer nada?

And what if you can’t do anything?

— Argentina 1985 (2022)

Lamentamos no poder ayudarte.

We’re sorry we can’t help you.

Y para colmo, no poder terminarlo esta noche.

And to top it all off, I can't finish it tonight.

— Los 400 golpes (1959)

Qué lástima no poder salir.

What a shame we can't go out.

— La Caída (2004)

A no poder proteger a tu hermana.

Not being able to protect your sister.

— Teléfono negro 2 (2025)

Me fastidia no poder ir.

It annoys me that I can't go.

Finge no poder llevar una vida normal.

He pretends he can't lead a normal life.

— Parásitos (2019)

Perdón por no poder reunirte con tu papá.

Sorry I couldn't meet you with your dad.

¡Es terrible para un hombre no poder hacerlo más!

It’s terrible for a man not to be able to do it anymore!

— Paris, je t'aime (2006)

Debe ser muy difícil no poder enterrar a tu hijo.

It must be very difficult not being able to bury your child.

— Tropa de Élite (2007)

Tenías miedo de no poder mirarme a la cara, como ahora.

You were afraid you wouldn’t be able to look me in the eye, just like now.

— Abre los ojos (1997)

Me alegra no poder ir.

I'm glad I can't go.

Él se quejó de no poder encontrar trabajo.

He complained about not being able to find a job.