Italian · Real conversations
Change a plan naturally in Italian
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
Possiamo spostare il nostro incontro a venerdì?
Could we move our meeting to Friday?
Request a new day for an existing meeting.
È sorto un imprevisto. Oggi non posso venire.
Something has come up. I can't make it today.
Explain an unexpected commitment and decline today's arrangement.
Scusa, arriverò con dieci minuti di ritardo. Va bene?
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
Giovedì va ancora bene?
Is Thursday still okay?
Possiamo spostare il nostro incontro a venerdì?
Could we move our meeting to Friday?
Changing an afternoon arrangement
Ci vediamo questo pomeriggio.
See you this afternoon.
È sorto un imprevisto. Oggi non posso venire.
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
Scusa, arriverò con dieci minuti di ritardo. Va bene?
I'm sorry, I'll be ten minutes late. Is that okay?
This speaking goal in other languages
A note on speaking Italian
Use tu with friends and Lei with someone you address formally. A request with vorrei or potrebbe can soften the tone; it still helps to say what you need clearly. The examples label the situation so you can choose the appropriate relationship.
Read doubled consonants distinctly and keep the written accents. The English translation explains the intended message; Italian often chooses a different construction rather than matching each English word.
