Inklingo

How to Say "to postpone" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “to postpone” is “retrasar” — use 'retrasar' when an event is scheduled for a later time, often due to an external factor like weather..

retrasar🔊A2

Use 'retrasar' when an event is scheduled for a later time, often due to an external factor like weather.

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demorar🔊A2

Use 'demorar' to indicate putting something off until later, especially when an external factor causes a delay.

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aplazar🔊B1

Choose 'aplazar' when you need to move a specific event to a later date, implying a formal rescheduling.

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posponer🔊B1

Use 'posponer' to indicate rescheduling an event to a specific future time.

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suspender🔊B1

Use 'suspender' when an event is delayed indefinitely or cancelled for the time being, often due to unforeseen circumstances.

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trasladar🔊B2

Use 'trasladar' when you are moving an event from its original time to a new, later time.

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diferir🔊C1

Use 'diferir' primarily for delaying payments or official decisions to a later point in time.

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English → Spanish

retrasar

rre-trah-SAHR/retɾaˈsaɾ/

verbA2general
Use 'retrasar' when an event is scheduled for a later time, often due to an external factor like weather.
A traveler sitting on a suitcase in an empty station, looking at a departure board with a sad expression.

Examples

La lluvia va a retrasar el comienzo del partido.

The rain is going to delay the start of the match.

Decidieron retrasar la reunión hasta el lunes.

They decided to postpone the meeting until Monday.

No quiero retrasar tu trabajo con mis preguntas.

I don't want to slow down your work with my questions.

Using the verb with objects

This verb is used when you are actively delaying something else, like a flight, a meeting, or a clock.

Moving Clocks

When Daylight Savings ends and you have to 'fall back,' use 'retrasar' to describe moving the hands of the clock back.

Retrasar vs. Tardar

Mistake: “Retrasé tres horas en llegar.”

Correction: Tardé tres horas en llegar. Use 'tardar' for the time YOU spent doing something; use 'retrasar' for making something happen later.

demorar

/deh-moh-rahr//de.moˈɾaɾ/

verbA2general
Use 'demorar' to indicate putting something off until later, especially when an external factor causes a delay.
A row of cars stopped at a red construction barricade on a road.

Examples

El mal tiempo va a demorar el vuelo.

The bad weather is going to delay the flight.

No quiero demorar más el inicio de la reunión.

I don't want to hold up the start of the meeting any longer.

Ciertos trámites pueden demorar la entrega del paquete.

Certain paperwork can delay the delivery of the package.

Making it personal

When you want to say YOU are taking a long time or are being late, add 'se' to the end (demorarse). For example: 'No te demores' means 'Don't be late'.

Using 'en' for actions

If you want to say someone is taking a long time doing something, follow 'demorar' with the word 'en' and then the activity. For example: 'Demoró en responder' (He took a long time to reply).

Don't use 'tomar tiempo'

Mistake: “La película tomó mucho tiempo.”

Correction: La película se demoró mucho. (In Spanish, we use 'demorar' or 'tardar' rather than 'tomar' when talking about things taking time.)

aplazar

/ah-plah-SAHR//aplaˈθaɾ/

verbB1formal
Choose 'aplazar' when you need to move a specific event to a later date, implying a formal rescheduling.
A closed picnic basket sitting on a wooden bench under a rainy sky.

Examples

Tuvimos que aplazar la boda hasta el próximo año.

We had to postpone the wedding until next year.

El partido se aplazó por la lluvia.

The match was delayed because of the rain.

No puedes aplazar tus decisiones para siempre.

You cannot put off your decisions forever.

Spelling Change Rule

The 'z' changes to 'c' when followed by an 'e'. This happens in the 'yo' form of the past (aplacé) and all forms of the special 'wish' verb form (subjunctive).

Preposition Match

Use 'para' or 'hasta' when saying the new date. For example: 'Lo aplazamos para el lunes' (We postponed it for Monday).

The Spelling Error

Mistake: “Yo aplazé la cita.”

Correction: Yo aplacé la cita. Because 'z' and 'e' rarely go together in Spanish, we switch to 'c'.

posponer

/pohs-poh-NEHR//pospoˈner/

verbB1general
Use 'posponer' to indicate rescheduling an event to a specific future time.
A soccer ball and a pair of sports shoes sitting by a window while it rains outside.

Examples

Tuvimos que posponer la reunión para el próximo martes.

We had to postpone the meeting until next Tuesday.

No pospongas tus sueños por miedo al fracaso.

Don't put off your dreams because of fear of failure.

Si sigue lloviendo, pospondrán el partido.

If it keeps raining, they will postpone the match.

Conjugates like 'poner'

This verb follows the exact same patterns as the common word 'poner'. If you know 'pongo' and 'puse', you already know 'pospongo' and 'pospuse'!

The 'D' in the future

When talking about the future, the 'e' drops out and a 'd' appears, making it 'pospondré' instead of 'posponeré'.

Regularizing the Past

Mistake: “Yo posponí la cita.”

Correction: Yo pospuse la cita. (Because it follows 'poner', the past form changes the stem to 'pus-').

suspender

/soos-pen-DEHR//suspenˈdeɾ/

verbB1general
Use 'suspender' when an event is delayed indefinitely or cancelled for the time being, often due to unforeseen circumstances.
A rainy outdoor stadium with empty seats and a closed gate.

Examples

Han suspendido el partido por la lluvia.

They have cancelled the game because of the rain.

El servicio de trenes ha sido suspendido temporalmente.

The train service has been temporarily suspended.

Tuvieron que suspender la reunión a última hora.

They had to call off the meeting at the last minute.

Suspender vs. Cancelar

While often used interchangeably, 'suspender' implies a temporary stop or a delay, whereas 'cancelar' sounds more permanent.

Confusing with 'Suspending' physically

Mistake: “Quiero suspender mi suscripción.”

Correction: Quiero cancelar mi suscripción. Use 'suspender' for events or official processes, 'cancelar' for services or memberships.

trasladar

/trah-slah-DAR//tɾaslaˈðar/

verbB2formal
Use 'trasladar' when you are moving an event from its original time to a new, later time.
A person erasing a mark on a paper and drawing a new circle in a different spot.

Examples

Tuvimos que trasladar la reunión al próximo martes.

We had to move the meeting to next Tuesday.

Han trasladado la fecha del examen por la huelga.

They have changed the exam date due to the strike.

Using 'al' for dates

When rescheduling to a specific day, use 'al' (to the): 'Lo trasladamos al lunes' (We moved it to Monday).

diferir

/dee-feh-REER//difeˈɾiɾ/

verbC1formal
Use 'diferir' primarily for delaying payments or official decisions to a later point in time.
A packed suitcase sitting by a closed door with a raincoat hanging nearby.

Examples

Han decidido diferir el pago hasta el próximo mes.

They have decided to defer the payment until next month.

El juez difirió la sentencia para estudiar mejor el caso.

The judge postponed the sentencing to study the case better.

No podemos diferir esta decisión por más tiempo.

We cannot put off this decision any longer.

Direct objects

When used to mean 'postpone,' the thing being delayed comes directly after the verb without a preposition.

Confusing with 'Differ'

Mistake: “Diferir a mañana.”

Correction: Diferir para mañana o Aplazar para mañana. While 'diferir' is correct, 'aplazar' is much more common for casual postponements.

Aplazar vs. Posponer

Learners often confuse 'aplazar' and 'posponer' as they both mean to reschedule. 'Aplazar' is generally more formal and implies moving something to an unspecified later date, while 'posponer' often implies rescheduling to a specific new date.

Related Translations

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