Cancelar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb cancelar means to cancel, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Cancelar means to cancel, and it is used for cancelling appointments, flights, subscriptions and meetings: you cancel a dentist appointment, a flight to Madrid, a gym subscription. It is a regular -ar verb, common in travel, health and work. Like every Spanish verb, cancelar changes its ending for each person and tense, and this page gives you the complete picture: every tense, every person, the gerund and the past participle, all from the verified conjugation tables. For example, in the present tense you say cancelo la cita con el dentista, and in the preterite you say cancelé la suscripción al gimnasio. Work through the tables below, read the notes for each tense, and then test yourself with the examples, the common mistakes and the quiz at the end of the page.
Quick facts
- Infinitive: cancelar
- English: to cancel
- Verb type: regular -ar verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: cancelando
- Past participle: cancelado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + cancelado)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for cancelar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Cancelar is fully regular: cancelé, cancelaba, cancelaré. The noun is cancelación, cancellation.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for cancelar. The imperfect subjunctive is shown in its -ra forms; the -se forms use the same stem. For reflexive verbs, the pronoun column shows the reflexive pronoun that goes before each form.
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | cancelo |
| tú | cancelas |
| él/ella/Ud. | cancela |
| nosotros/as | cancelamos |
| vosotros/as | canceláis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | cancelan |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | cancelé |
| tú | cancelaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | canceló |
| nosotros/as | cancelamos |
| vosotros/as | cancelasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | cancelaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | cancelaba |
| tú | cancelabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | cancelaba |
| nosotros/as | cancelábamos |
| vosotros/as | cancelabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | cancelaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | cancelaré |
| tú | cancelarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | cancelará |
| nosotros/as | cancelaremos |
| vosotros/as | cancelaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | cancelarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | cancelaría |
| tú | cancelarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | cancelaría |
| nosotros/as | cancelaríamos |
| vosotros/as | cancelaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | cancelarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he cancelado |
| tú | has cancelado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha cancelado |
| nosotros/as | hemos cancelado |
| vosotros/as | habéis cancelado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han cancelado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había cancelado |
| tú | habías cancelado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había cancelado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos cancelado |
| vosotros/as | habíais cancelado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían cancelado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré cancelado |
| tú | habrás cancelado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá cancelado |
| nosotros/as | habremos cancelado |
| vosotros/as | habréis cancelado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán cancelado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría cancelado |
| tú | habrías cancelado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría cancelado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos cancelado |
| vosotros/as | habríais cancelado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían cancelado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | cancele |
| tú | canceles |
| él/ella/Ud. | cancele |
| nosotros/as | cancelemos |
| vosotros/as | canceléis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | cancelen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | cancelara |
| tú | cancelaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | cancelara |
| nosotros/as | canceláramos |
| vosotros/as | cancelarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | cancelaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | cancela |
| él/ella/Ud. | cancele |
| nosotros/as | cancelemos |
| vosotros/as | cancelad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | cancelen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | canceles |
| él/ella/Ud. | cancele |
| nosotros/as | cancelemos |
| vosotros/as | canceléis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | cancelen |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | cancelando | with estar for the progressive: estoy cancelando |
| Past participle | cancelado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he cancelado |
How to use each tense
Present indicative
Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For cancelar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Cancelo la cita con el dentista. Learn the present forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Preterite
Use the preterite for finished actions with a clear end, often with ayer, el año pasado or anoche. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For cancelar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, cancelé el vuelo a Madrid. Learn the preterite forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperfect
Use the imperfect for background, habits and actions in progress in the past, often with de niño, antes or mientras. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For cancelar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, cancelaba la suscripción al gimnasio. Learn the imperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Future
Use the future for plans, predictions and promises, often with mañana, el año que viene or pronto. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For cancelar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, cancelaré la reunión de mañana. Learn the future forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Conditional
Use the conditional for polite requests, hypotheticals and what would happen, often with si clauses. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For cancelar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Cancelaría la cita con el dentista si pudiera. Learn the conditional forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Present perfect
Use the present perfect for recent actions and experiences, often with hoy, esta semana or ya. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For cancelar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he cancelado el vuelo a Madrid. Learn the present perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Pluperfect
Use the pluperfect when one past action happened before another past action. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For cancelar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había cancelado la suscripción al gimnasio antes de salir. Learn the pluperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Future perfect
Use the future perfect for something that will already be finished by a future time. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For cancelar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré cancelado la reunión de mañana. Learn the future perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Conditional perfect
Use the conditional perfect for what would have happened under different conditions. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For cancelar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría cancelado la cita con el dentista con más tiempo. Learn the conditional perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Present subjunctive
Use the present subjunctive after expressions of wish, doubt, emotion and hope, such as espero que or quiero que. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For cancelar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él cancele el vuelo a Madrid. Learn the present subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
Use the imperfect subjunctive after past wishes and in si clauses about the past, and note the -ra forms shown here; the -se forms use the same stem. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For cancelar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él cancelara la suscripción al gimnasio, todo cambiaría. Learn the imperfect subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperative (affirmative)
Use the affirmative imperative for direct commands, instructions and invitations. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For cancelar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡cancela la reunión de mañana! Learn the affirmative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperative (negative)
Use the negative imperative, always with no, to tell someone not to do something. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For cancelar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No canceles la cita con el dentista. Learn the negative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with cancelar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Cancelo la cita con el dentista. — I cancel the appointment with the dentist.
- Cancela el vuelo a Madrid. — He/she cancels the flight to Madrid.
- Ayer, cancelé la suscripción al gimnasio. — Yesterday, I cancelled the gym subscription.
- Antes, nosotros cancelábamos la reunión de mañana. — Before, we used to cancel tomorrow's meeting.
- Mañana, tú cancelarás la cita con el dentista. — Tomorrow, you will cancel the appointment with the dentist.
- Yo cancelaría el vuelo a Madrid si tuviera más tiempo. — I would cancel the flight to Madrid if I had more time.
- Él ha cancelado la suscripción al gimnasio. — He has cancelled the gym subscription.
- Espero que él cancele la reunión de mañana. — I hope he cancels tomorrow's meeting.
- Yo ya había cancelado la cita con el dentista antes de salir. — I had already cancelled the appointment with the dentist before leaving.
- Ellos cancelaban el vuelo a Madrid cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to cancel the flight to Madrid when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo cancela la cita con el dentista. — Right: Yo cancelo la cita con el dentista. — The person matters: cancela is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is cancelo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Treating cancelar and anular as identical in every context. — Right: Cancelar means to cancel, while anular means to annul or cancel something officially. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: cancelar fits sentences such as Cancelo la cita con el dentista, while anular belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy cancelado el vuelo a Madrid. — Right: Yo he cancelado el vuelo a Madrid. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he cancelado, has cancelado, ha cancelado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo cancelé la suscripción al gimnasio todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo cancelaba la suscripción al gimnasio todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (cancelaba), not the preterite. The preterite (cancelé) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on cancelar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la cita con el dentista. (present tense) A. cancelo B. cancelas C. cancela D. cancelamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ el vuelo a Madrid. (preterite) A. cancelé B. cancelaste C. cancelaron D. canceló
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ la suscripción al gimnasio. (imperfect) A. cancelabas B. cancelaban C. cancelábamos D. cancelaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ la reunión de mañana. (future) A. cancelaremos B. cancelarás C. cancelaré D. cancelará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la cita con el dentista si pudiera. (conditional) A. cancelaría B. cancelarías C. cancelarían D. cancelo
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ el vuelo a Madrid. (present subjunctive) A. canceles B. cancelemos C. cancelo D. cancele
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ la suscripción al gimnasio, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. canceláramos B. cancelo C. cancelara D. cancelaras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ la reunión de mañana. (present perfect) A. han cancelado B. hemos cancelado C. he cancelado D. has cancelado
Complete the command: ¡___ la cita con el dentista! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. cancela B. cancele C. cancelemos D. cancelad
Which is the gerund of cancelar, used with estar for the progressive? A. cancelado B. cancelo C. cancelé D. cancelando
Answer key
- cancelo — The first-person present of cancelar is cancelo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- canceló — The third-person preterite of cancelar is canceló, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- cancelábamos — The nosotros imperfect of cancelar is cancelábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- cancelarás — The second-person future of cancelar is cancelarás.
- cancelaría — The first-person conditional of cancelar is cancelaría, the form for what would happen.
- cancele — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of cancelar is cancele.
- cancelara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of cancelar is cancelara.
- hemos cancelado — The nosotros present perfect of cancelar is hemos cancelado: hemos + cancelado.
- cancela — The affirmative tú imperative of cancelar is cancela.
- cancelando — The gerund of cancelar is cancelando: estoy cancelando. The participle cancelado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does cancelar mean in English?
Cancelar means to cancel. It is used in everyday situations such as Cancelo la cita con el dentista. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is cancelar regular or irregular?
Cancelar is a fully regular -ar verb, so every tense follows the standard endings for its class. Once you know the regular pattern, you can produce every form on this page, including cancelo in the present and cancelé in the preterite.
What is the difference between cancelar and anular?
Cancelar means to cancel, while anular means to annul or cancel something officially. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use cancelar when you mean to cancel, as in Cancelo la cita con el dentista, and use anular for to annul or cancel something officially. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I cancel” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo cancelé el vuelo a Madrid. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo cancelaba la suscripción al gimnasio. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he cancelado el vuelo a Madrid.
How do I practise cancelar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the cancelar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Cancelar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for cancelar.
- Cancelar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for cancelar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Captar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with cancelar.
- Capturar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with cancelar.
- Calcular conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with cancelar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.