French · Real conversations
Change a plan naturally in French
When a plan changes, state the change early. Ask for a new day, explain that you cannot attend, or give a realistic arrival time and check whether it works.
Three ways to say it
Pourrait-on déplacer notre rendez-vous à vendredi ?
Could we move our meeting to Friday?
Request a new day for an existing meeting.
J'ai un imprévu. Je ne peux pas venir aujourd'hui.
Something has come up. I can't make it today.
Explain an unexpected commitment and decline today's arrangement.
Désolé / désolée, j'aurai dix minutes de retard. Ça te va ?
I'm sorry, I'll be ten minutes late. Is that okay?
Give the expected delay and ask whether that is acceptable.
Avoid translating word by word
English 'something has come up' usually means an unexpected matter needs attention. It does not describe an object moving upward. The examples use a natural expression for an unexpected event or task.
See the difference in context
Moving a Thursday meeting
Jeudi, ça te va toujours ?
Is Thursday still okay?
Pourrait-on déplacer notre rendez-vous à vendredi ?
Could we move our meeting to Friday?
Changing an afternoon arrangement
À cet après-midi.
See you this afternoon.
J'ai un imprévu. Je ne peux pas venir aujourd'hui.
Something has come up. I can't make it today.
Your turn
Tell someone you will be ten minutes late. Apologize and ask whether the revised time is okay.
Reveal a sample reply
Désolé / désolée, j'aurai dix minutes de retard. Ça te va ?
I'm sorry, I'll be ten minutes late. Is that okay?
This speaking goal in other languages
A note on speaking French
Use vous with strangers, staff, and people you address formally; use tu when that relationship is established. Je voudrais and pourriez-vous can make a request considerate. The most appropriate choice depends on the person and the situation.
Keep accents and apostrophes. A familiar spoken expression may differ from its literal English translation. Read the complete line, including the pronoun and the words that connect the request.
