Spanish · Real conversations
Change a plan naturally in Spanish
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
¿Podríamos cambiar nuestra reunión al viernes?
Could we move our meeting to Friday?
Request a new day for an existing meeting.
Me surgió un imprevisto. No puedo ir hoy.
Something has come up. I can't make it today.
Explain an unexpected commitment and decline today's arrangement.
Perdón, llegaré diez minutos tarde. ¿Está bien?
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
¿El jueves todavía te viene bien?
Is Thursday still okay?
¿Podríamos cambiar nuestra reunión al viernes?
Could we move our meeting to Friday?
Changing an afternoon arrangement
Nos vemos esta tarde.
See you this afternoon.
Me surgió un imprevisto. No puedo ir hoy.
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
Perdón, llegaré diez minutos tarde. ¿Está bien?
I'm sorry, I'll be ten minutes late. Is that okay?
This speaking goal in other languages
A note on speaking Spanish
These guides use broadly understandable Latin American Spanish. Tú is familiar and usted is respectful or formal, with important regional variation. Me gustaría and ¿podría …? are useful for considerate requests.
Keep accent marks and opening question marks. Some regions choose different everyday words. Follow the complete example rather than substituting English words one by one, especially with pronouns and expressions of preference.
