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cancelar

to cancel

verb kahn-seh-LAHR Rare
People & Society Work

Also means

to pay off

Usage Note

Cancelar means to cancel an event, subscription, or agreement, but in Latin American Spanish it also commonly means to pay or settle a debt (cancelar una deuda, cancelar la cuenta). In Spain the payment sense is unusual and pagar or saldar is preferred instead. This regional split is a genuine false friend for learners moving between varieties.

Examples

"Tuvieron que cancelar el concierto por la lluvia."

Natural Translation

They had to cancel the concert due to the rain.

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