French · Real conversations
How to say “I'm afraid I can't make it.” in French
Tell someone politely that you will not be able to attend.
Malheureusement, je ne pourrai pas venir.
I'm afraid I can't make it.
Acknowledge the invitation or arrangement and make the cancellation clear.
Use it in three situations
Canceling a visit
Malheureusement, je ne pourrai pas venir.
I'm afraid I can't make it.
Declining an event
Je suis désolé/désolée, je ne pourrai pas venir ce soir.
I'm afraid I can't make it tonight.
Explaining a missed meetup
Je suis désolé/désolée, je ne pourrai pas venir vendredi.
I'm afraid I can't make it on Friday.
What to watch for
'I'm afraid' expresses regret here; a literal statement about fear can change the meaning.
Read the whole expression before replacing a detail. The natural wording may use a different order or construction from the English sentence.
Your turn
Imagine changing plans. Say this in French: I'm afraid I can't make it tonight.
Reveal a sample reply
Je suis désolé/désolée, je ne pourrai pas venir ce soir.
I'm afraid I can't make it tonight.
Build a useful exchange
Explain a change and offer a clear next step.
This expression 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.
