Ignore It in Spanish | Say It Right Without Sounding Rude

Most times, “Ignóralo” is the natural way to say it, with “No le hagas caso” as a softer daily option.

You want a phrase that lands clean. Not stiff. Not mean. Just the right amount of “let it go.” Spanish gives you a few solid picks, and the best one depends on who you’re talking to, what you’re brushing off, and how direct you want to be.

This article gives you the main translations, the pronoun choices that trip people up, and ready-to-use lines for chats, travel, and work. You’ll walk away knowing what to say in the moment, not after a grammar spiral.

What “Ignore” Means In Spanish

English “ignore” can mean two different things. Spanish keeps those senses apart more often.

• Not know: “I don’t know” or “I’m unaware.” In Spanish, that’s ignorar in its older sense.
• Not pay attention: treat something as not worth your attention. That’s also ignorar in modern use, plus a set of daily phrases that feel more natural in conversation.

The RAE dictionary entry for “ignorar” lists both senses, including “no hacer caso,” which is the idea you usually mean when you say “ignore it.”

Pick The Right Level Of Directness

Spanish can sound sharper than English when you translate word-for-word. “Ignóralo” is fine, yet it can read like a command. If you want a gentler tone, you can switch to a phrase that frames it as advice.

Here are the two anchors you’ll use most:

• Ignóralo / Ignórala — direct, clear, works when you’re giving a firm nudge.
• No le hagas caso — daily, softer, fits friends, family, and texts.

If you’re writing or speaking in a context where “ignorar” feels too broad, Fundéu has a helpful note on how Spanish often uses more specific verbs and phrases in place of a blanket “ignore.” See FundéuRAE’s piece on “ignorar” and its senses.

Ignoring It In Spanish In Real Conversations

Let’s get practical. People rarely say “Ignóralo” in a vacuum. They wrap it in a line that matches the situation. These patterns sound natural across many countries.

When Someone’s Being Annoying

If a person is trying to get a reaction, Spanish often reaches for “don’t give them attention.”

• No le hagas caso. (Don’t pay them any mind.)
• Ni caso. (Not a bit of attention.)
• Déjalo pasar. (Let it slide.)

When It’s A Comment Online

Online drama calls for short, punchy lines.

• Ignóralo y ya. (Ignore it and that’s it.)
• Pasa de eso. (Drop it / move past it.)
• No entres al juego. (Don’t play into it.)

When It’s Noise Or Distractions

For distractions, “ignore” often turns into “block it out.”

• Haz como si no existiera. (Act like it doesn’t exist.)
• No le prestes atención. (Don’t pay attention to it.)

People also say hacer caso when they mean “pay attention,” so “no le hagas caso” lands as “don’t give it attention.”

Table Of The Most Useful Ways To Say “Ignore It”

Use this table as your phrase menu. Pick a row based on tone and context.

Spanish Phrase	Best Use	Feel In English
Ignóralo / Ignórala	Clear advice, firm boundary	Ignore it.
No le hagas caso	Friends, family, daily talk	Don’t pay it any mind.
No le prestes atención	Polite tone, mixed settings	Don’t give it attention.
Ni caso	Quick reaction, casual	Don’t bother with it.
Déjalo pasar	Minor offense, smooth things over	Let it slide.
Pasa de eso	Drop the topic, move on	Forget it / move past it.
No entres al juego	Provocation, baiting	Don’t take the bait.
Haz como si no existiera	Ongoing annoyance, boundaries	Act like it isn’t there.
Hagamos como que no pasó	Awkward moment, keep peace	Let’s pretend it didn’t happen.

Get The Pronouns Right: Lo, La, Los, Las

English “it” stays the same. Spanish “it” changes with gender and number. That’s why you’ll see ignóralo and ignórala.

Use these defaults:

• Lo for a masculine thing: Ignóralo.
• La for a feminine thing: Ignórala.
• Los / las for plural: Ignóralos, Ignóralas.

When “it” refers to a person, Spanish varies by region. Many speakers use lo or la for direct object. Some areas use le with a masculine person. Instituto Cervantes explains what’s accepted and what changes by region in its note on leísmo, laísmo, and loísmo.

Fast Ways To Choose Lo Vs La

Ask yourself: what noun are you pointing at?

• El comentario → Ignóralo.
• La broma → Ignórala.
• Los mensajes → Ignóralos.
• Las críticas → Ignóralas.

Positive Vs Negative Commands

Spanish commands change shape in the negative. That’s normal, and you can still keep your line short.

Affirmative Commands

• Ignóralo.
• No le hagas caso.
• Déjalo pasar.

Negative Commands

• No lo ignores.
• No le hagas caso. (This one already has no.)
• No le prestes atención.

If you want the grammar behind why imperatives behave this way, the RAE explains the forms and how the imperative works in its section on imperative forms.

Table For Common Forms By Person

This table helps when you’re switching between tú, usted, and plural forms.

Who You’re Talking To	Affirmative	Negative
Tú (informal, one person)	Ignóralo / Ignórala	No lo ignores / No la ignores
Usted (formal, one person)	Ignórelo / Ignórela	No lo ignore / No la ignore
Ustedes (plural)	Ignórenlo / Ignórenla	No lo ignoren / No la ignoren
Vosotros (Spain, plural)	Ignoradlo / Ignoradla	No lo ignoréis / No la ignoréis
Vos (parts of Latin America)	Ignoralo / Ignorala	No lo ignores / No la ignores

Regional Notes That Keep You From Sounding Odd

Spanish travels well, yet a couple of forms shift by region. If you learn these, you’ll sound natural faster.

Spain: Vosotros Shows Up In Commands

In Spain, groups often get vosotros commands like Ignoradlo. In most of Latin America, people stick with ustedes instead, so you’ll hear Ignórenlo for the same idea. If you’re speaking to a mixed group and you’re unsure, ustedes works across countries.

Parts Of Latin America: Vos Can Change The Shape

In places with voseo, you might see spellings like Ignoralo in casual writing. In speech, it still sounds like a command aimed at one person. If you’re learning for travel, it’s fine to stick with tú forms; people will understand you.

One More Tone Trick

If “ignore it” is meant as comfort, Spanish often adds a small reassurance after the command. It keeps the line from sounding like a scolding. Try pairing the phrase with a calm reason: No le hagas caso, no vale la pena, or Ignóralo, ya pasará.

Pronoun Placement With Commands

This is where many learners freeze. In affirmative commands, the pronoun usually attaches to the end: Ignóralo, Ignórala, Ignóralos. In negative commands, the pronoun moves in front: No lo ignores, No la ignores. It’s a small shift, yet it changes the whole look of the sentence.

When you switch to a phrase like No le hagas caso, the pronoun is already in place, so you don’t have to think about attachment. That’s one reason it feels so easy in daily talk.

Texting Tips That Keep You Polite

Texts are short, yet tone still comes through. A plain command can feel harsh, so you can soften it with a small cushion.

Soft Starters

• Mejor ni le hagas caso. (Better not to pay it mind.)
• Tranquilo, ignóralo. (It’s fine, ignore it.)
• Déjalo, no vale la pena. (Drop it, it’s not worth it.)

When You’re Setting A Boundary

If the goal is a boundary, direct language helps. Keep it short.

• No contestes. (Don’t reply.)
• Bloquéalo. (Block them/it.)
• Ignora esos mensajes. (Ignore those messages.)

Common Mix-Ups And Clean Fixes

These are the mistakes learners make most often, plus the fix that sounds natural.

Mix-Up: Using “Ignorar” When You Mean “Not Know”

Ignoro can mean “I don’t know.” That’s correct Spanish, yet it can sound formal in daily talk. In casual speech, many people go with No sé or No tengo idea.

Mix-Up: Forgetting The Object

“Ignore!” alone can sound abrupt. Add the object or switch to an idiom:

• Ignóralo.
• No le hagas caso.

Mix-Up: Picking The Wrong Pronoun

If you’re unsure of gender, you can dodge the pronoun by naming the thing:

• Ignora el comentario.
• No le hagas caso a ese ruido.

A Mini Checklist Before You Say It

Run through these quick questions and you’ll land on the right phrasing fast.

1. Do you want firm or gentle? Firm: Ignóralo. Gentle: No le hagas caso.
2. Is “it” a thing or a person? Thing: lo/la. Person: choose lo/la; some regions use le with a masculine person.
3. Are you using tú or usted? Tú: Ignóralo. Usted: Ignórelo.
4. Do you need a negative?No lo ignores keeps the message clear.

Ready-To-Use Lines You Can Copy

Here are quick lines that fit common moments. Swap lo for la when the noun is feminine.

• Ignóralo. Solo quiere una reacción.
• No le hagas caso. Mañana ni te acordarás.
• Déjalo pasar. No merece discusión.
• Pasa de eso y seguimos.
• No entres al juego. Cambia el tema.

If you remember just one pairing, make it this: direct Ignóralo, soft No le hagas caso. With that, you can handle most “ignore it” moments without sounding rude or stiff.