Appointment Meaning, Grammar & Pop Culture
How to Say “Appointment” in Spanish and Other Languages
How to say “appointment” in Spanish — cita, hacer una cita, cancelar una cita — plus other languages and how to ask for an interpreter.
Independent guide — not a government website. Book My Service can’t book or change appointments, and we aren’t affiliated with organizations named here. Rules and fees change — confirm with the official source before you go.
Key points
- In Spanish, an appointment is usually “una cita”; to make one is “hacer” or “pedir una cita”.
- Useful phrases: “Tengo una cita a las…”, “Necesito cambiar mi cita”, “Quiero cancelar mi cita”.
- If you need language help at an appointment, ask the office ahead of time whether an interpreter is available.
Spanish: “cita”
The most common Spanish word for an appointment is cita (feminine: la cita, una cita). “Cita” can also mean a date in the romantic sense, so context makes the meaning clear. In medical settings you may also hear consulta (a consultation).
Useful phrases
- Hacer una cita / pedir una cita — to make an appointment.
- Tengo una cita a las tres. — I have an appointment at three.
- Quisiera hacer una cita para el lunes. — I’d like to make an appointment for Monday.
- Necesito cambiar mi cita. — I need to change my appointment.
- Quiero reprogramar mi cita. — I want to reschedule my appointment.
- Quiero cancelar mi cita. — I want to cancel my appointment.
- Confirmar la cita — to confirm the appointment.
- Llegar temprano — to arrive early.
- ¿Qué documentos debo traer? — What documents should I bring?
In some Spanish-speaking countries, an online booking system may be called a sistema de citas or agenda de citas, and “appointment only” is solo con cita previa.
Other languages
- French: un rendez-vous (to make one: prendre rendez-vous).
- Portuguese: uma consulta (medical) or um agendamento; marcar uma consulta means to book one.
- Italian: un appuntamento.
- German: ein Termin (einen Termin vereinbaren — to arrange an appointment).
Asking for language help
Many organizations can arrange interpreters, but often only if you ask ahead. MedlinePlus suggests that if your doctor doesn’t speak your language, you call the office before the visit and ask them to provide an interpreter. Government agencies set their own rules: USCIS, for example, publishes biometrics appointment instructions in several languages and says that if you don’t understand spoken English you should bring someone who can translate for that appointment. Always check the instructions for your specific appointment.
Grammar and spelling in English
For definitions and synonyms of the English word, see what “appointment” means.
Sources and official links
We checked these sources on . Official pages change, so the live page always wins over this guide.