Portuguese Phrase
Cancela minha consulta, por favor.
Meaning
The speaker is asking someone (typically a receptionist or a service provider) to cancel a previously scheduled appointment. The phrase is polite thanks to the inclusion of ‘por favor’, but it remains informal because of the verb form ‘cancela’.
When to use
Use this sentence when you need to cancel a medical, dental, or any professional appointment and you are speaking in a casual or semi‑formal setting, such as with a familiar receptionist, a friend who booked the slot, or a small clinic where informal speech is common.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Cancelaminhaconsulta,porfavor.
Imperative (2nd person singular)
‘Cancela’ is the informal imperative form of the verb ‘cancelar’, used when speaking to someone you address as ‘tu’ or in informal contexts.
Possessive adjective
‘minha’ agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies (consulta – feminine singular).
Noun ‘consulta’
In this context it means a scheduled appointment, usually with a doctor or professional.
Polite phrase ‘por favor’
Adds courtesy; it can appear at the beginning, middle or end of a request.
🗨In Conversation
Cancela minha consulta, por favor.
Cancel my appointment, please.
Claro, já anotei o cancelamento. Posso marcar outro horário?
Sure, I’ve noted the cancellation. Would you like to reschedule?
✕Common Mistakes
Cancele minha consulta, por favor.
Use ‘cancele’ for formal situations; ‘cancela’ sounds too casual with strangers or in a formal clinic.
Cancela minha reunião, por favor.
If you mean a medical appointment, you can say ‘consulta médica’; omitting ‘médica’ is fine in informal speech but may be ambiguous.
Cancela minha consulta.
Leaving out ‘por favor’ can make the request sound abrupt; always include it unless you’re in a very informal context with close friends.
↔Alternatives
Por favor, cancele minha consulta.
Please cancel my appointment.
Gostaria de cancelar a minha consulta, por favor.
I would like to cancel my appointment, please.
Preciso cancelar a consulta, pode?
I need to cancel the appointment, can you?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, adding ‘por favor’ is essential for politeness, even in short requests. However, the verb form matters: ‘cancela’ is informal, while ‘cancele’ (formal imperative) is preferred in more formal settings such as a large hospital or when speaking to a senior professional. Also, it’s common to follow up with a suggestion to reschedule, showing respect for the other party’s time.