This article aims to analyze the constitution of the refusal speech in Shona, English and Portuguese. For this purpose, data from 30 University students who speak the three languages as mother tongue, second and foreign language is analyzed. Based on the theories of speech acts and discourse analysis, the study adopts qualitative and quantitative approaches. The study reveals that, in order to lessen the negative impact of the refusal act, irrespective of the language and its social status, the constitution of the refusal speech, whether direct or indirect, consists of a combination of illocutionary refusal acts (main illocutionary act) with assertive and expressive illocutionary acts. These acts serve to minimizing the impact of the refusal act. Apologies, expressions of feelings and justificative phrases are some of the expressions mostly used to soften the refusal.