Welcome — ready to untangle a scheduling mess? This short lesson gives you friendly, useful phrases for cancelling or rescheduling plans.
Listen, repeat, and try them out in small role-plays to sound natural when plans change.
Level A2: In this lesson you'll practice common phrases for cancelling, delaying, or suggesting another time (e.g., “Hoy ya no me queda bien”, “¿Qué día te queda mejor?”). This CEFR-aligned set helps you explain conflicts, suggest alternatives, and promise updates — all politely and naturally. Lesson 131 keeps it practical and quick.
After this lesson you'll be able to:
Recognize and use polite phrases to cancel or reschedule plans.
Explain a scheduling conflict and suggest alternatives.
Practice speaking the exact phrases aloud (A2-level conversation skills).
Ready? Let's go!
When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.
1. Reading + Listening Practice
Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.
¿Qué día te queda mejor?
What day works best for you?
Meaning: Which day works better for you?
When to use: Use this to ask the other person to choose a different day that suits them better.
No puedo el lunes. ¿Qué día te queda mejor?
I can't on Monday. Which day works better for you?
Si el martes no puedes, ¿qué día te queda mejor?
If you can't do Tuesday, which day works better for you?
¿Te quedaría mejor ___?
Would ___ be better?
Meaning: Would ___ work better for you?
When to use: Use this to suggest a different time, day, or place politely.
¿Te quedaría mejor el jueves por la tarde?
Would Thursday afternoon work better for you?
¿Te quedaría mejor encontrarnos en el centro?
Would meeting downtown work better for you?
Tengo otra cita a esa hora.
I have another appointment then.
Meaning: I have another appointment at that time.
When to use: Say this when you cannot be available because of another appointment or commitment.
Tip: Beginners sometimes say “tengo cita” without article; use “tengo otra cita” or “tengo una cita” for clarity.
Lo siento, tengo otra cita a esa hora.
Sorry, I have another appointment at that time.
No puedo quedar a las cinco; tengo otra cita a esa hora.
I can't meet at five; I have another appointment at that time.
Puede que llegue un poco tarde.
I may be a little late.
Meaning: I might arrive a little late.
When to use: Use this to warn someone gently you could be late.
Puede que llegue un poco tarde, hay mucho tráfico.
I might arrive a little late, there's a lot of traffic.
Si salgo tarde, puede que llegue un poco tarde.
If I leave late, I might arrive a little late.
Por favor, no me esperes.
Please don't wait for me.
Meaning: Please don't wait for me.
When to use: Tell the other person not to wait when you suspect you won't arrive on time or the plan may change.
Tip: Using informal tone with strangers — for formal situations use “Por favor, no me espere.”
Si tardo, por favor, no me esperes.
If I'm delayed, please don't wait for me.
No quiero retrasarte. Por favor, no me esperes si no llego pronto.
I don't want to make you late. Please don't wait for me if I don't arrive soon.
Te aviso pronto.
I'll let you know soon.
Meaning: I'll let you know soon.
When to use: Promise to give an update later when you need to check something first.
No estoy seguro del horario. Te aviso pronto.
I'm not sure about the schedule. I'll let you know soon.
Déjame confirmar y te aviso pronto.
Let me confirm and I'll let you know soon.
Hoy ya no me queda bien.
Today doesn't work for me anymore.
Meaning: Today no longer works for me.
When to use: Explain that a plan for today can't be kept; a natural alternative is “Hoy ya no puedo.”
Perdón, hoy ya no me queda bien. ¿Lo dejamos para otro día?
Sorry, today no longer works for me. Shall we leave it for another day?
Tenía tiempo esta mañana, pero hoy ya no me queda bien.
I had time this morning, but today no longer works for me.
¿Podemos pasarlo un poco más tarde?
Can we push it back a little?
Meaning: Can we move it a little later?
When to use: Ask to delay a meeting or plan by a small amount of time.
El tren llega tarde. ¿Podemos pasarlo un poco más tarde?
The train is late. Can we move it a little later?
Tengo una llamada antes. ¿Podemos pasarlo un poco más tarde, por favor?
I have a call before. Can we move it a little later, please?
Me equivoqué de hora.
I got the time wrong.
Meaning: I got the time wrong.
When to use: Use this to admit you mixed up the scheduled time.
Lo siento, me equivoqué de hora y llego más tarde.
Sorry, I got the time wrong and I'll arrive later.
Revisé mi calendario y me equivoqué de hora.
I checked my calendar and I got the time wrong.
2. Conversational Listening Practice
Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.
Anna calls David because their plan for today is uncertain.
What does Anna say about today?
Anna
Hola, David. Hoy ya no me queda bien, ¿podemos cambiar?
Hi, David. Today no longer works for me — can we change?
David
Vaya. ¿Qué día te queda mejor?
Oh. Which day works better for you?
Anna
¿Te quedaría mejor el viernes por la tarde?
Would Friday afternoon work better for you?
David
El viernes me va bien, pero puede que llegue un poco tarde.
Friday works for me, but I might arrive a little late.
Anna
Perfecto. Te aviso pronto con la hora exacta.
Perfect. I'll let you know soon with the exact time.
3. Guided Practice
Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.
How do you ask 'Which day works better for you?' in Spanish?
Which phrase explains you have another commitment at that time?
How do you politely tell someone not to wait for you?
Which phrase promises you'll update the other person soon?
I have another appointment at that time.
Anna: ¿Quieres cambiar la cita? David: ___.
I might arrive a little late.
Llegaré tarde al cine. ___.
Today no longer works for me.
No puedo hoy. ___. ¿Qué día te queda mejor?
Match the core phrases
Match the extra phrases
4. Speaking Practice
Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).
Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.
