Olivia: Hi Daniel, do you have a minute? I need to talk about our meeting tomorrow.
Daniel: Hi Olivia, sure, of course, what’s going on?

Olivia: I’m really sorry, but something important came up at work and I don’t think I can make it tomorrow at 4.
Daniel: Oh, I see, no worries, thanks for letting me know in advance.

Olivia: I feel bad because I know we planned this last week and you rearranged your schedule.
Daniel: Don’t worry, I understand, sometimes work gets crazy and things change.

Olivia: I have to join a last-minute meeting with my boss, and they just moved it to tomorrow afternoon.
Daniel: That sounds stressful, I completely understand you can’t miss that.

Olivia: Thank you for being so understanding, I really appreciate it.
Daniel: Of course, it’s okay, the important thing is that we find another time that works for both of us.

Olivia: I definitely still want to meet, would you be free another day this week?
Daniel: Let me think… Thursday afternoon or Friday morning could work for me.

Olivia: Thursday afternoon could be good, I’m free after 5 p.m.
Daniel: Great, on Thursday I’m free from 5:30 onwards, would 5:30 work for you?

Olivia: Yes, 5:30 on Thursday sounds perfect.
Daniel: Nice, then we’ll just move our meeting from Wednesday at 4 to Thursday at 5:30.

Olivia: That would be great, thank you for being flexible about it.
Daniel: No problem at all, thanks for suggesting a new time instead of just cancelling.

Olivia: I really didn’t want to cancel completely, our conversation is important for me.
Daniel: That means a lot, and I also think it will be a useful meeting for both of us.

Olivia: Just to be sure, do you prefer to meet in person at the same café, or online this time?
Daniel: If it’s easier for you after a long workday, we can do it online.

Olivia: Actually, I’d like to get out of the office, so meeting at the café sounds nice.
Daniel: Perfect, then same place as before, at the corner café, right?

Olivia: Yes, exactly, the corner café at 5:30 on Thursday.
Daniel: Got it, I’ll put it in my calendar now so I don’t forget.

Olivia: I’ll update my calendar too and cancel the old appointment.
Daniel: Good idea, that way we won’t get confused with the time.

Olivia: Once again, I’m really sorry for the change at such short notice.
Daniel: Honestly, it’s okay, these things happen, and you told me as soon as you could.

Olivia: I was worried you might be annoyed or disappointed.
Daniel: Not at all, I’d be more disappointed if you went to the meeting stressed and distracted.

Olivia: That’s very kind of you to say, thank you.
Daniel: You’re welcome, we’ll have a better conversation on Thursday when you’re more relaxed.

Olivia: True, I’ll probably feel much calmer by then.
Daniel: And if for any reason something changes again, we can always adjust once more.

Olivia: I’ll do my best to keep this new time, but if anything happens I’ll let you know straight away.
Daniel: Sounds good, and I’ll do the same on my side.

Olivia: So, just to confirm, Thursday at 5:30 at the corner café.
Daniel: Yes, that’s it, I’m looking forward to it.

Olivia: Me too, and thanks again for your patience and understanding.
Daniel: Anytime, Olivia, good luck with your meeting with your boss tomorrow.

Olivia: Thanks, I’ll need it! Talk to you soon.
Daniel: Talk to you soon, have a good evening.

En este diálogo aparece el inglés típico para cancelar o cambiar una cita de forma educada.

Se usan expresiones para cancelar o no poder asistir como “I don’t think I can make it” (no creo que pueda ir), “something important came up at work” (ha surgido algo importante en el trabajo) y “I have to join a last-minute meeting” (tengo que asistir a una reunión de última hora). El verbo frasal come up es muy habitual para decir que ha surgido algo inesperado sin dar demasiados detalles.

Para hablar de la cita y el horario, aparecen “our meeting tomorrow”, “tomorrow at 4”, “another day this week”, “Thursday afternoon or Friday morning”, “we’ll just move our meeting from Wednesday at 4 to Thursday at 5:30”. El verbo move aplicado a una reunión (to move a meeting) significa cambiarla de hora o de día.

Para mostrar emociones y cortesía, se usan expresiones como “I’m really sorry”, “I feel bad because…”, “thank you for being so understanding”, “I really appreciate it”, “thank you for being flexible”, “I was worried you might be annoyed”, “that’s very kind of you to say”. Este tipo de lenguaje emocional suave es muy común en inglés cuando se cancela algo.

Vocabulario para reorganizar: “find another time that works for both of us”, “would you be free another day this week?”, “Thursday afternoon could be good”, “does 5:30 work for you?”, “I’ll put it in my calendar”, “I’ll update my calendar and cancel the old appointment”. La expresión “works for you” quiere decir “te viene bien / te encaja”.

También hay vocabulario sobre formato de la reunión: “meet in person”, “at the same café”, “or online this time”, “same place as before”, “corner café”. Esto refleja la realidad actual: muchas citas pueden ser presenciales u online.

La cancelación está formulada con mucho tacto:
“I’m really sorry, but something important came up at work and I don’t think I can make it tomorrow at 4.”
Aquí se combinan disculpa (I’m really sorry), explicación breve (something important came up) y referencia concreta a la cita (tomorrow at 4).

El receptor responde de forma comprensiva:
“Oh, I see, no worries, thanks for letting me know in advance.”
“No worries” es muy coloquial para “no pasa nada”, y “thanks for letting me know in advance” valora el hecho de avisar con tiempo.

Para mostrar empatía hacia el que cancela:
“That sounds stressful, I completely understand you can’t miss that.”
Expresa comprensión en lugar de juicio, algo muy típico en inglés cuando se quiere mantener una buena relación.

Para proponer alternativas:
“I definitely still want to meet, would you be free another day this week?”
“Thursday afternoon or Friday morning could work for me.”
Se nota la estructura de problema + solución: no solo se cancela, se propone inmediatamente un nuevo momento.

Para cerrar el acuerdo de forma clara:
“So we’ll just move our meeting from Wednesday at 4 to Thursday at 5:30.”
“Just to be sure, do you prefer to meet in person… or online this time?”
“So, just to confirm, Thursday at 5:30 at the corner café.”
Las expresiones “just to be sure” y “just to confirm” ayudan a evitar malentendidos, repitiendo los datos clave.

Para normalizar el cambio y quitar hierro:
“Honestly, it’s okay, these things happen, and you told me as soon as you could.”
“I’d be more disappointed if you went to the meeting stressed and distracted.”
Estas frases son muy útiles para mostrar que la relación está por encima del pequeño problema logístico.

Y para acabar con tono positivo:
“We’ll have a better conversation on Thursday when you’re more relaxed.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
“Anytime, good luck with your meeting with your boss.”

Uso de PRESENTE SIMPLE para hechos y horarios

Se usa para hablar de planes fijos y hábitos:
“We planned this last week.”
“We meet at the corner café.”
“Thursday afternoon could be good, I’m free after 5 p.m.”
En inglés los horarios y citas se suelen expresar en presente simple o con expresiones de tiempo como tomorrow, on Thursday.

Uso de PASADO SIMPLE para justificar la cancelación

“We planned this last week and you rearranged your schedule.”
Se usa para referirse a la organización previa y reconocer el esfuerzo del otro.

Uso de FORMAS MODALES para suavizar y negociar

Aparecen can, could, would:
“I don’t think I can make it tomorrow at 4.”
“Would you be free another day this week?”
“Would 5:30 work for you?”
El uso de would hace las preguntas más suaves y educadas que un simple Do you want…? o Is 5:30 okay?.

Uso de FUTURO CON “WILL” para acordar el nuevo plan

“We’ll just move our meeting from Wednesday at 4 to Thursday at 5:30.”
“I’ll put it in my calendar now.”
“We’ll have a better conversation on Thursday.”
Aquí will expresa decisión conjunta y compromiso.

Uso de EXPRESIONES CON “AT SUCH SHORT NOTICE” Y “AS SOON AS”

Aunque solo aparece “at such short notice” implícito en el tono (ella dice “sorry for the change at such short notice”), es una expresión muy típica para disculparse por avisar tarde.
“You told me as soon as you could” indica que el tiempo de aviso fue razonable dadas las circunstancias.

La importancia de la disculpa explícita

En inglés es muy habitual empezar con “I’m really sorry” y añadir una breve explicación. Cancelar sin disculparse puede sonar brusco o poco considerado, incluso si el motivo es objetiva y claramente importante.

Explicaciones breves, no dramáticas

En lugar de dar una gran historia, se usa algo tipo “something important came up at work” o “a last-minute meeting with my boss”. Suficiente para contextualizar, pero sin exceso de detalle.

Valorar el aviso y la flexibilidad

Respuestas como “thanks for letting me know in advance” o “thanks for suggesting a new time instead of just cancelling” son muy típicas. En la cultura anglófona se valora mucho que, si cancelas, propongas alternativas y no dejes al otro colgado.

Normalizar que “estas cosas pasan”

Frases como “these things happen”, “sometimes work gets crazy and things change” son un recurso cultural muy extendido para quitar culpa y reducir tensión, sin negar el problema.

Confirmar dos veces los detalles

Es muy normal que al final se repita todo: día, hora, lugar. La estructura “So, just to confirm, [día, hora, sitio]” es casi un ritual para evitar confusiones y demuestra cuidado por el tiempo del otro.

Estructura útil para cancelar o cambiar en inglés

Primero, disculpa y motivo breve:
“I’m really sorry, but something important came up at work and I don’t think I can make it tomorrow at 4.”

Segundo, reafirmar que quieres mantener la relación o la cita:
“I definitely still want to meet, it’s an important conversation for me.”

Tercero, propuesta de alternativas concretas:
“Would you be free another day this week? Thursday afternoon or Friday morning could work for me.”

Cuarto, cierre claro con confirmación:
“So, just to confirm, Thursday at 5:30 at the corner café.”

Frases clave que puedes usar tal cual

Para cancelar con tacto:
“I’m really sorry for the change at such short notice.”
“Something urgent came up and I don’t think I can make it.”

Para proponer otra hora:
“Would it be possible to move our meeting to [día/hora]?”
“Does [día/hora] work for you?”

Para mostrar empatía si eres tú quien recibe la cancelación:
“No worries, thanks for letting me know.”
“These things happen, let’s just find another time that works for both of us.”

En situaciones de cancelar o cambiar una cita en inglés, te conviene:
Usar una fórmula de tres pasos: disculpa breve, motivo simple, propuesta de nueva fecha.
Dominar expresiones como “I don’t think I can make it”, “something came up”, “would you be free another day?”, “does [hora] work for you?”, “just to confirm…”.
Mantener un tono empático tanto si cancelas tú como si te cancelan, usando frases que normalicen la situación y refuercen la idea de que la relación es más importante que la cita concreta.