French Phrase
Désolé, je vais devoir annuler.
Meaning
The speaker is apologizing and stating that they will have to cancel something—an appointment, a meeting, a reservation, etc. The use of "vais devoir" softens the statement, indicating that the cancellation is unavoidable.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to cancel a plan you previously agreed to, especially in a semi‑formal or professional context. It works well for phone calls, emails, or face‑to‑face conversations where you want to sound polite and responsible.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Désolé,jevaisdevoirannuler.
Désolé / Désolée
Use "Désolé" if you identify as male, "Désolée" if female; it’s a short apology meaning “sorry”.
Future proche with devoir
"Je vais devoir" is the near‑future construction meaning “I am going to have to”. It combines the verb "aller" + infinitive "devoir" + another infinitive.
Infinitive after devoir
When "devoir" is followed by another verb, that verb stays in the infinitive (here, "annuler").
Verb "annuler"
"Annuler" means “to cancel”. It is a regular -er verb; its past participle is "annulé".
🗨In Conversation
Salut, on se retrouve à 18 h pour le dîner ?
Hey, are we meeting at 6 p.m. for dinner?
Désolé, je vais devoir annuler. Un imprévu vient de surgir.
Sorry, I’m going to have to cancel. Something unexpected just came up.
✕Common Mistakes
Désolée, je vais devoir annuler.
Use "Désolé" if the speaker is male; "Désolée" is only for a female speaker.
Désolé, je vais annuler.
Leaving out "devoir" can sound abrupt; "je vais devoir" conveys that the cancellation is unavoidable.
Désolé, je vais devoir canceler.
"Annuler" is the correct verb; avoid using English‑derived "canceler" which does not exist in French.
↔Alternatives
Je suis désolé, je dois annuler.
I’m sorry, I have to cancel.
Pardon, je dois annuler.
Excuse me, I have to cancel.
Je regrette, je vais devoir annuler.
I regret that I will have to cancel.
Cultural Tip
In French, apologizing with "Désolé" (or "Désolée" for women) is considered courteous, but it’s also common to add a brief explanation (e.g., "un imprévu" or "un empêchement") to show respect for the other person’s time. In very formal settings, you might say "Je vous prie de m’excuser" before the cancellation.