Italian for Beginners: Changing Plans Politely in Italian
Learn to apologize and reschedule in Italian with phrases like 'Possiamo spostare a domenica?' and 'Mi è sorto un impegno,' including polite tu/Lei forms.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
Making plans is one skill; changing them is another. In Italian, rescheduling usually means apologizing briefly and proposing a new time. This lesson gives you beginner-friendly phrases to say something came up, ask to push an appointment to Sunday, and respond when someone changes plans with you. You will practice the polite Lei form and the informal tu form, and learn which expressions sound natural in everyday Italian.
By the end, you can…
- apologize for a change of plans in Italian.
- suggest a new day or time using spostare and va bene.
- say that something came up using common Italian expressions.
- accept or decline a new proposed time politely.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Mi dispiace, ma oggi non posso.
I'm sorry, but I can't today.
mee dee-SPYAH-cheh, mah OH-jee nohn POHS-soh
A simple, sincere apology. Use it when you need to cancel or postpone at the last minute.
Mi è sorto un impegno.
Something came up.
mee eh SOHR-toh oon eem-PEH-nyoh
Literally 'an obligation arose.' It explains a sudden conflict without giving details. It is understood throughout Italy, though it may sound slightly more typical of northern and central usage.
Possiamo spostare a domenica?
Can we push it to Sunday?
pohs-SYAH-moh spoh-STAH-reh ah doh-meh-NEE-kah
Spostare means 'to move' or 'to postpone.' Use it with a day, date or time: spostare a lunedì, spostare alle tre.
Le va bene domenica pomeriggio?
Does Sunday afternoon work for you? (polite Lei)
leh vah BEH-neh doh-meh-NEE-kah poh-meh-REE-joh
The polite form for someone you don't know well, an older person, or a professional contact.
Ti va bene se facciamo lunedì?
Is Monday okay with you? (informal tu)
tee vah BEH-neh seh fah-CHAH-moh loo-neh-DEE
Use with friends, family, classmates and people your age you already know.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To propose a new time, use Possiamo + infinitive + a + time: Possiamo spostare a domenica? ('Can we push it to Sunday?'). To ask if a time works, use Le va bene...? in the polite form or Ti va bene...? informally. Answer with Sì, mi va bene or Mi dispiace, non posso. You can also say Va bene, ci vediamo domenica. Notice that a is used before days and clock times: a domenica, alle cinque.
When to use it
Use Mi dispiace, ma... when you are the one changing the plan. Use Mi è sorto un impegno when you need a brief reason without details; it is neutral and common. If the other person changes the plan, respond with Va bene or Mi dispiace, non posso. Choose Lei forms with strangers, older people and professional contacts, and tu forms with friends. In writing, Perdonami or Scusami is warmer and more informal; Mi scusi is the polite spoken form.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Ciao Marco, mi dispiace, ma oggi non posso venire.
Hi Marco, I'm sorry, but I can't come today.CHAH-oh MAR-koh, mee dee-SPYAH-cheh, mah OH-jee nohn POHS-soh veh-NEE-rehVa bene. Possiamo spostare a domenica?
Okay. Can we push it to Sunday?vah BEH-neh. pohs-SYAH-moh spoh-STAH-reh ah doh-meh-NEE-kahDomenica pomeriggio mi va bene. Alle quattro?
Sunday afternoon works for me. At four?doh-meh-NEE-kah poh-meh-REE-joh mee vah BEH-neh. AHL-leh KWAHT-trohPerfetto, ci vediamo domenica alle quattro.
Perfect, see you Sunday at four.pehr-FEHT-toh, chee veh-DYAH-moh doh-meh-NEE-kah AHL-leh KWAHT-trohA little context goes a long way
Italians often soften a change with Mi dispiace or Mi scusi before giving the new proposal. Mi è sorto un impegno is understood everywhere, though it may sound slightly more typical of northern and central Italy; in the south you may also hear Ho avuto un imprevisto ('I had an unexpected event'). With friends, a quick Scusa, non posso is enough; with professionals, use the Lei form and avoid overly casual excuses.
One thing to watch for
Using Posso spostare a domenica? to mean 'Can we push it to Sunday?'
Try this instead: Use Possiamo spostare a domenica? for 'we.' Posso means 'I can,' so Posso spostare a domenica? means 'Can I move it to Sunday?' and excludes the other person. For a shared decision, say Possiamo spostare a domenica?
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You need to cancel with a friend and suggest Sunday. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
Mi dispiace, ma oggi non posso. Possiamo spostare a domenica?
This apologizes first and then proposes a new day with Possiamo spostare a. You could also say Ti va bene domenica? Both are natural with a friend.
2How do you politely ask a professional contact if Monday works?
Show a sample answer
Le va bene lunedì?
Le va bene is the polite Lei form. With a friend you would say Ti va bene lunedì? Both are correct; choose based on formality.
3What does Mi è sorto un impegno mean, and when would you use it?
Show a sample answer
It means 'Something came up.' Use it to explain a sudden conflict without giving details, for example: Mi dispiace, mi è sorto un impegno. Possiamo spostare?
It is a neutral, common way to say something came up. Ho avuto un imprevisto is a valid alternative, especially in southern Italy.
Apologize first with Mi dispiace, then propose a new time with Possiamo spostare a...? or Le/Ti va bene...? Choose Lei for polite contexts and tu with friends.
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