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PhrasesCancelling PlansNon mi sento bene, devo annullare.
A1informal

Non mi sento bene, devo annullare.

I don't feel well, I need to cancel.

Pronunciation

'Annullare' — an-nul-LA-re. Double 'l' is clearly pronounced, stress on the third syllable.

When to use it

Use when you are genuinely unwell or when you need a believable, sympathetic reason to cancel plans with friends or family. Less appropriate in formal professional settings.

What it means

'Non mi sento bene' uses the reflexive verb 'sentirsi' (to feel). 'Devo annullare' means 'I must cancel'. This combination is direct and elicits sympathy rather than disappointment from the other person.

Variations

Sto poco bene, non ce la faccio.

I'm not feeling great, I can't manage it.

'Non ce la faccio' is extremely colloquial — implies you genuinely cannot cope

Ho la febbre, purtroppo devo cancellare.

I have a fever, unfortunately I have to cancel.

More specific — inspires immediate sympathy and no pushback

Mi sono svegliato/a male stamattina.

I woke up feeling bad this morning.

Casual, used among close friends — implies you are not at your best

Mini Dialogue

— A che ora ci troviamo? — Guarda, non mi sento bene, devo annullare. Mi dispiace molto. — Oddio, cosa hai? — Mal di testa fortissimo. Recuperiamo la prossima settimana?

— What time shall we meet? — Look, I don't feel well, I need to cancel. I'm really sorry. — Oh no, what's wrong? — A really bad headache. Shall we make up for it next week?

Cultural Note

Italians take illness seriously as a reason to cancel. It's also common to receive unsolicited home remedy advice — be prepared for suggestions involving chamomile tea or a hot broth.