Hindi · Real conversations
How to say “I'm afraid I can't make it.” in Hindi
Tell someone politely that you will not be able to attend.
माफ़ कीजिए, मैं नहीं आ पाऊँगा / पाऊँगी।maaf kijiye, main nahin aa paaoonga / paaoongi.
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
माफ़ कीजिए, मैं नहीं आ पाऊँगा / पाऊँगी।maaf kijiye, main nahin aa paaoonga / paaoongi.
I'm afraid I can't make it.
Declining an event
माफ़ कीजिए, मैं आज शाम नहीं आ पाऊँगा/पाऊँगी।maaf kijiye, main aaj shaam nahin aa paaunga/paaungi.
I'm afraid I can't make it tonight.
Explaining a missed meetup
माफ़ कीजिए, मैं शुक्रवार को नहीं आ पाऊँगा/पाऊँगी।maaf kijiye, main shukravaar ko nahin aa paaunga/paaungi.
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 Hindi: I'm afraid I can't make it tonight.
Reveal a sample reply
माफ़ कीजिए, मैं आज शाम नहीं आ पाऊँगा/पाऊँगी।maaf kijiye, main aaj shaam nahin aa paaunga/paaungi.
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 Hindi
These examples generally use respectful आप (aap). Familiar तुम (tum) changes the verb ending, and तू (tu) can sound too intimate or disrespectful in the wrong relationship. Where gender changes a first-person form, choose the version that describes the speaker.
Read the Devanagari alongside the romanization. Romanization is a reading aid rather than an exact description of every sound. Everyday Hindi can use familiar loanwords, while a literal English word order may sound unnatural.
