Spanish · Cita previa
You arrive later than your appointment time and ask to be seen: what to say in Spanish
You arrive after the appointment time and ask to be seen.
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How it's done. Being late may mean losing the appointment; if you are late, phone or apologise and ask if you can still go in.Prepared by the Movko team, November 2026. This is language help, not legal or medical advice: check the rules with the office itself.
Cheat sheet for your visit
The first phrase is open: tap ▶ to listen, or “Show” to show it to the other person. The rest of the dialogue is in the course in the app.
1
YOU START
Perdone, tenía cita a las diez y llego tarde. ¿Puedo pasar?
Pehr-DOH-neh, teh-NEE-uh SEE-tuh uh lahs dyehs ee YEH-goh TAHR-deh. Poo-EH-doh puh-SAHR?
Sorry, I had an appointment at ten and I'm late. May I come in?
THEY SAY
Ya ha pasado su turno. Espere un momento, voy a preguntar.Yah uh puh-SAH-doh soo TOOR-noh. Es-PEH-reh oon moh-MAYN-toh, boy uh preh-goon-TAHR.
Your turn has passed. Wait a moment, I'll ask.
They might also say:
Su hora ya ha pasado. Espere un momento, voy a consultarlo.
Soo OH-ruh yah uh puh-SAH-doh. Es-PEH-reh oon moh-MAYN-toh, boy uh kohn-sool-TAHR-loh.
Your time has passed. Wait a moment, I'll check.
2
YOU REPLY
Muchas gracias. Lo siento mucho.
MOO-chuhs GRAH-syuhs. Loh SYAYN-toh MOO-choh.
Thank you very much. I'm very sorry.
THEY SAY
Pase. Le atenderán enseguida.PAH-seh. Leh uh-tayn-deh-RAHN ayn-seh-GEE-duh.
Go in. They'll see you right away.
3
YOU FINISH
Gracias.
GRAH-syuhs.
Thank you.
THEY SAY
De nada. Otra vez, llegue un poco antes.Deh NAH-duh. OH-truh bes, YEH-geh oon POH-koh AHN-tes.
You're welcome. Next time, come a little earlier.
The course is in the app
This dialogue is part of the course “Spanish for life in Spain”: 416 situations with audio, a pronunciation guide and spaced review.
On the website the first dialogue, the 112 category, the rescue phrases and the “Basics” are fully open.
Words worth knowing
Perdone
Pehr-DOH-neh
verb
excuse me, sorry
tenía
teh-NEE-uh
verb
had
cita
SEE-tuh
noun
appointment
llego
YEH-goh
verb
I arrive
tarde
TAHR-deh
noun
afternoon, evening
pasar
puh-SAHR
verb
to pass, to come in, to spend
30 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
If you did not understand
¿Puede repetirlo, por favor?
Poo-EH-deh reh-peh-TEER-loh, por fuh-BOR?
Can you repeat that, please?
¿Puede hablar más despacio, por favor?
Poo-EH-deh uh-BLAHR mahs des-PAH-syoh, por fuh-BOR?
Can you speak more slowly, please?
Todavía no hablo bien español.
Toh-duh-BEE-uh noh AH-bloh byayn es-puh-NYOL.
I don't speak Spanish well yet.
Similar situations
You look for which office to go toCita previa · A2 in the app
→You phone to book an appointment at a government officeCita previa · A2 in the app
→You explain that there are no free appointmentsCita previa · A2 in the app
→You arrive for your appointment and show the confirmationCita previa · A2 in the app
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