Spanish Phrase
Quiero cancelar mi reserva.
Meaning
Literally ‘I want to cancel my reservation.’ The speaker is expressing a desire to nullify a previously made booking, whether it be for a hotel room, a flight, a restaurant table, or any other service that requires a reservation.
When to use
Use this sentence when you call or email a service provider to inform them that you no longer need the booked slot. It works in formal contexts (e.g., speaking with a hotel receptionist) and informal ones (e.g., texting a friend about a shared reservation).
✦Grammar Breakdown
Quierocancelarmireserva
Quiero (querer)
First‑person singular present of the verb *querer* meaning ‘to want’. It is a regular -er verb.
Cancelar (infinitive)
The infinitive form of the verb *cancelar* ‘to cancel’. In Spanish the infinitive follows the verb that expresses desire, request, or ability.
Mi (possessive adjective)
A singular, first‑person possessive adjective that agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies.
Reserva (noun)
A feminine singular noun meaning ‘reservation, booking’. The article is omitted because the possessive adjective already marks definiteness.
🗨In Conversation
Quiero cancelar mi reserva.
I want to cancel my reservation.
Claro, ¿puede darme su número de confirmación, por favor?
Sure, could you give me your confirmation number, please?
✕Common Mistakes
Quiero cancelo mi reserva.
‘Cancelo’ is the first‑person present of *cancelar* and would mean ‘I cancel’, which changes the meaning. Use *Quiero cancelar* to express desire.
Quiero cancelar reserva.
Leaving out the possessive can sound vague; always include *mi* unless the context already makes the reservation clear.
↔Alternatives
Deseo anular mi reserva.
I wish to annul my reservation.
Me gustaría cancelar mi reserva.
I would like to cancel my reservation.
Quisiera cancelar mi reserva.
I would like to cancel my reservation (more polite).
Cultural Tip
In most Spanish‑speaking countries it is considered courteous to add a brief apology or ‘por favor’ before the request, e.g., *Disculpe, quisiera cancelar mi reserva, por favor.* Also, note the subtle difference: *cancelar* is more common in Latin America, while *anular* is frequently used in Spain for formal cancellations.