Don’t Give Up in Spanish Language | Words You’ll Say

“No te rindas” is the clean, everyday way to say “don’t give up” in Spanish, with close options that shift for formality, tone, and the moment.

You don’t need a dozen motivational quotes to say this well. You need one solid default, a few natural backups, and the confidence to match the person in front of you. That’s what this page gives you.

You’ll learn the standard line, the polite version, a couple of softer options, and two idioms Spanish speakers use when they want the message to land. You’ll also get quick pronunciation cues and ready-to-send text lines.

What “don’t give up” means in Spanish

The most common translation is no te rindas. It’s built from rendirse (“to give up” or “to surrender”), and Spanish speakers use it all the time as encouragement.

Spanish also has close alternatives that feel different in tone. You’ll hear phrases built on:

• Rendirse (giving up / surrendering)
• Darse por vencido (admitting defeat)
• Seguir (keeping going)
• Tirar la toalla (throwing in the towel)

Pick the one that fits the moment. A short push works for a tough set at the gym. A softer line fits a friend who feels embarrassed. A polite form matters at work.

Don’t Give Up in Spanish Language when you need the default

If you memorize one phrase, make it no te rindas. It’s short, clear, and widely understood across Spanish-speaking countries. It works in speech, writing, and texting.

Pronunciation cue: rindas sounds like “REEN-dahs.” Stress the first syllable: REEN.

Use it when:

• Someone is stuck and wants a nudge
• You’re sending a short message that should feel warm
• You want a phrase that fits most contexts without sounding stiff

Small grammar that makes the phrase work

No te rindas is a negative command aimed at tú (informal “you”). Spanish negative commands often use a different verb form than the one you’d use in a statement. That’s why you see rindas.

If grammar terms slow you down, keep this pattern. It’s the part you’ll reuse:

• No + te + verb: No te rindas, No te vayas, No te preocupes

Want a trustworthy reference for how rendir(se) behaves in standard Spanish? The Academy’s usage note is clear and concise. RAE “rendir(se)” usage note

Choosing the right tone: soft, firm, or formal

English “don’t give up” can sound gentle or tough depending on your voice. Spanish works the same way. The words stay simple; the feel shifts with a few choices.

Soft encouragement

Use a softer line when someone feels drained or self-conscious. These feel caring without sounding dramatic:

• No te des por vencido / No te des por vencida
• Ánimo
• Sigue adelante

Firm push

Short can hit harder when the moment calls for it:

• No te rindas
• No pares
• No aflojes

Formal respect

When you’re speaking to someone you address as usted, switch to formal forms:

• No se rinda
• No se dé por vencido / vencida

Phrase list that fits real conversations

Native speakers rotate phrases. Repeating the same line isn’t wrong, but options help you match the moment and avoid sounding rehearsed.

A small trick: add one short clause after the phrase. “No te rindas” is good. “No te rindas, ya falta poco” feels personal.

The table below gives you reliable choices, plus notes that help you pick fast.

Spanish phrase	Best use	Notes that help you sound natural
No te rindas.	All-purpose encouragement	Direct and friendly; works in speech and text.
No se rinda.	Formal encouragement	Use with usted; respectful and clear.
No te des por vencido/a.	Supportive and steady	Add -o for a man, -a for a woman; for mixed groups, many default to -os.
Sigue adelante.	“Keep going” tone	Pairs well with “paso a paso” when you want calm pacing.
No tires la toalla.	Colloquial, sporty vibe	Matches “don’t throw in the towel”; casual and vivid.
No aflojes.	Energetic push	Feels like “don’t let up.” Works well with “vamos.”
Sigue intentándolo.	Practice and learning	Great for studying, training, and skill-building.
Aguanta un poco más.	Short final stretch	Best when the tough part is brief and you can see the finish line.
Vas bien, sigue así.	Praise plus direction	Works when someone doubts progress and needs a reality check.

No tires la toalla is an idiom you’ll hear in everyday Spanish. The Academy’s dictionary records “arrojar, o tirar, la toalla” as a fixed expression with the colloquial sense of giving up. RAE entry for “arrojar, o tirar, la toalla”

Text message lines that feel human

On a screen, a blunt sentence can feel cold. Two small moves help:

• Add a reason: Ya falta poco, Vas bien, Lo estás haciendo mejor.
• Add an action: Respira, Haz una pausa, Luego sigues.

Try these:

• No te rindas. Ya falta poco.
• Ánimo. Hoy fue duro; mañana sale mejor.
• Sigue adelante, paso a paso. Estoy contigo.
• No tires la toalla. Descansa y vuelve.

Pronunciation and rhythm that sound natural

A phrase can be correct and still sound off if the rhythm is choppy. Spanish tends to connect words, so aim for a smooth run instead of one word at a time.

Use these quick cues, then say each line twice: once slow, once at normal speed.

• No te rindas: NOH-teh REEN-dahs
• No se rinda: NOH-seh REEN-dah
• No te des por vencido: NOH-teh dess por ven-SEE-doh
• Sigue adelante: SEE-geh ah-deh-LAN-teh
• No tires la toalla: NOH TEE-rehs lah toh-AH-yah

One more tip: in fast speech, no te often comes out like a single unit. Don’t force a pause between them. Let it flow and your accent will sound calmer.

Regional notes that keep you sounding natural

Most phrases above work across countries. Still, some lines show up more in certain places.

Dale is common in parts of Latin America as a push like “go for it.” No aflojes also shows up a lot, often in friendly, energetic speech.

Salir adelante is a steady phrase for “getting through it” or “making it through.” The Centro Virtual Cervantes lists it as a set expression linked to overcoming difficulties. Cervantes note on “salir adelante”

When you’re unsure, stick with no te rindas or no te des por vencido/a. They land well almost everywhere.

Real talk templates you can reuse

Encouragement lands best when it’s specific. Pair your phrase with one detail: what’s going well, what’s next, or what you can do right now.

Short add-ons that fit almost anywhere

• Ya falta poco.
• Vas mejor de lo que piensas.
• Una cosa a la vez.
• Estoy aquí.

Mini scripts for common moments

• No te rindas. Lo difícil ya pasó; termina este paso y listo.
• Ánimo. Hoy salió regular; mañana lo haces con más calma.
• No te des por vencida. Prueba otra vez y cambia una cosa pequeña.
• No se rinda. Su idea está bien; ajuste dos detalles y queda.
• No tires la toalla. Haz una pausa corta y sigues.

If you’re talking to yourself, the same phrases work. Say them in the mirror, then do one tiny action right away. That link between words and action is what turns a phrase into momentum.

Quick swaps for formality, number, and gender

Spanish marks formality, and often number. Some phrases also mark gender. You don’t need to overthink it. Use these quick swaps:

• No te des por vencido (to a man)
• No te des por vencida (to a woman)
• No se den por vencidos (to a group, mixed or all men)
• No se den por vencidas (to a group of women)

If you’re cheering on a whole group, the verb changes too. Here are practical lines tied to common situations.

Situation	Natural Spanish line	What it signals
One friend (tú)	No te rindas.	Friendly, direct push.
One person (usted)	No se rinda.	Respectful tone.
Two or more people (ustedes)	No se rindan.	Group encouragement, neutral.
Someone learning a skill	Sigue intentándolo.	Practice mindset.
Team during a tough set	No aflojen. Vamos.	Energy and pace.
Short final stretch	Aguanta un poco más.	Finish-line focus.
Work stress with a deadline	Sigue adelante, paso a paso.	Calm forward motion.
Friend who doubts progress	Vas bien, sigue así.	Grounded reassurance.

Common mistakes and quick fixes

These slip-ups are normal, and they’re easy to fix once you see them:

• Using a statement instead of a command: People write no te rindes. That’s present tense. Use no te rindas.
• Mixing tú and usted: If you speak in usted, match it with no se rinda.
• Overdoing intensity: One phrase plus one reason often lands better than a long speech.

A fast checklist to pick the best phrase

• Need a default?No te rindas.
• Need respect?No se rinda.
• Want a softer tone?No te des por vencido/a.
• Want a casual idiom?No tires la toalla.
• Want steady action?Sigue adelante or Sigue intentándolo.

If you want one last memory hook, say your chosen line out loud once, then text it to yourself. The phrase sticks faster when your mouth and your eyes both do the work.