Portuguese Phrase
Posso remarcar meu compromisso?
Meaning
The speaker is politely asking whether it is possible to change the date or time of a previously arranged appointment. It conveys respect for the other party’s schedule while expressing a need for flexibility.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to move a meeting, doctor’s visit, class, or any scheduled event. It works in both formal (e.g., with a professor or a business client) and informal contexts (e.g., with a friend), though you can make it more formal with ‘poderia’.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Possoremarcarmeucompromisso?
Posso (modal verb)
‘Posso’ is the first‑person singular present of the verb ‘poder’, used to ask for permission or ability.
remarcar (verb)
‘Remarcar’ means ‘to reschedule’ or ‘to set again’; it is a regular -ar verb conjugated in the infinitive after ‘posso’.
meu (possessive adjective)
‘Meu’ agrees in gender and number with the noun that follows; here it modifies ‘compromisso’ (masculine singular).
compromisso (noun)
‘Compromisso’ can refer to an appointment, a meeting, or any obligation that has been scheduled.
Question mark
In Portuguese the question mark is placed only at the end of the sentence, unlike Spanish which uses opening and closing marks.
🗨In Conversation
Posso remarcar meu compromisso?
Can I reschedule my appointment?
Claro, qual seria a nova data?
Sure, what date would work for you?
✕Common Mistakes
Posso marcar meu compromisso?
‘Marcar’ only means ‘to set’; you need ‘remarcar’ to indicate a change.
Pode remarcar meu compromisso?
‘Pode’ is third‑person singular; the subject is ‘eu’, so you must use ‘posso’.
Posso remarcar compromisso?
Missing the possessive ‘meu’ makes the sentence sound vague.
↔Alternatives
Posso mudar a data do meu compromisso?
Can I change the date of my appointment?
Seria possível reagendar meu compromisso?
Would it be possible to reschedule my appointment?
Você poderia remarcar meu compromisso?
Could you reschedule my appointment?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, asking permission with ‘posso’ is considered courteous, but in very formal settings (e.g., with a senior manager or a professor) you might prefer ‘poderia’ or ‘seria possível’. Also, it’s common to suggest an alternative date right after the request to show you respect the other person’s time.