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How to Say ‘If you have to cancel’ in German

Falls Sie absagen müssen

fals zee AP-zah-gen MUE-sen

[fals zee AP-zah-gen MUE-sen]

💬 Usage Tip: After falls "if", the verb jumps to the end: falls Sie absagen müssen. The same happens after wenn and weil.

Phrase Breakdown

Falls Sie

fals zee

in case you

'Falls' means 'in case' or 'if' and sends the verb to the end of the clause.

Example

Falls Sie Fragen haben, rufen Sie an.

If you have questions, call.

Words in this phrase

Falls

[fals]

in case / if

Conjunction for a possible situation; verb goes last.

Example

Falls es regnet, bleiben wir drinnen.

In case it rains, we stay inside.

Sie

[zee]

you (formal)

Formal pronoun Sie used to address one person politely.

Example

Kommen Sie bitte herein.

Please come in.

absagen müssen

AP-zah-gen MUE-sen

have to cancel

'Absagen' means 'to cancel'. In a subordinate clause, the modal 'müssen' comes last. Stress 'AB'.

Example

Ich muss leider absagen.

Unfortunately I have to cancel.

Words in this phrase

absagen

[AP-zah-gen]

to cancel

Separable verb: to call off an appointment.

Example

Ich muss den Termin absagen.

I have to cancel the appointment.

müssen

[MUE-sen]

have to / must

Modal verb expressing necessity.

Example

Wir müssen jetzt gehen.

We have to go now.

Guides for German learners

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