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B1 verb 11 Min. Lesezeit

anular

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Erklärung anular in your Level:

At the A1 level, you only need to know 'anular' in the context of daily life, specifically for appointments and reservations. Think of it as a slightly more formal way to say 'cancelar.' If you have a doctor's appointment or a hotel room you can't use, you can 'anular la cita' or 'anular la reserva.' It is a regular -ar verb, so you conjugate it just like 'hablar' or 'estudiar.' At this stage, focus on the present tense: 'Yo anulo mi reserva.' You might see this word on websites when you are shopping or booking travel. It's important to recognize it so you don't accidentally click 'anular' and lose your booking! Remember, it's about making something 'nothing' (related to the word 'nulo').

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As an A2 learner, you can start using 'anular' in more varied contexts, such as shopping and basic transactions. If you buy something online and change your mind immediately, you might need to 'anular el pedido' (cancel the order). You will also hear it in sports, specifically football. If a goal is not allowed, the referee 'anula el gol.' You should be comfortable using 'anular' in the past tense (pretérito indefinido) to talk about things you did: 'Ayer anulé mi suscripción al gimnasio.' You are also learning that it can be used for documents like a 'voto' (vote) in an election if it's done incorrectly. It's a useful word for being precise about administrative tasks.

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At the B1 level, you should understand the distinction between 'anular' and 'cancelar.' While 'cancelar' is for events, 'anular' is for validity. You will encounter this word in legal contexts, such as 'anular un contrato' (to void a contract) or 'anular un matrimonio' (to annul a marriage). You should also be aware of its use in logic and math, where two things 'se anulan' (cancel each other out). This is the level where you start using the word to describe more complex social situations, like an authority figure 'anulando' the efforts of others. You should be able to use it in the subjunctive: 'Espero que no anulen el vuelo.' Your vocabulary is becoming more precise, and 'anular' helps you avoid overusing 'cancelar.'

At the B2 level, you can explore the metaphorical and psychological meanings of 'anular.' You might read or hear about a person 'anulando a su pareja' (suppressing their partner's personality). This requires a deeper understanding of human dynamics. You will also see 'anular' in more complex news reports about the 'Tribunal Supremo' (Supreme Court) nullifying laws or sentences. You should be comfortable with the passive voice: 'La ley fue anulada por ser inconstitucional.' You can also use it in technical or scientific contexts to describe the neutralization of effects or forces. Your ability to distinguish 'anular' from 'revocar,' 'derogar,' or 'rescindir' shows a high level of linguistic sophistication.

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At the C1 level, 'anular' becomes a tool for precise legal, political, and philosophical discourse. You understand the nuances of 'nulidad absoluta' vs 'nulidad relativa.' You can discuss how certain historical events 'anularon' the progress of a decade. You are sensitive to the register of the word, knowing when to use 'anular' versus its more technical synonyms like 'invalidar' or 'irrito.' You can use the word in complex sentence structures, such as 'Si bien los argumentos iniciales parecían sólidos, la evidencia posterior terminó por anularlos por completo.' You also recognize the word in literature where it might be used to describe the erasure of identity or the voiding of existence itself.

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At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of 'anular' in all its forms, including its rare and archaic uses. You can navigate the most complex legal texts where 'anular' is used in specific jurisprudential contexts. You understand how the word functions in various dialects of Spanish and can use it with perfect tone and register. You might explore the etymological connection between 'anular' and 'anillo' (ring) via the Latin 'annulus,' explaining why the ring finger is the 'dedo anular.' You can use the verb to describe the most subtle nuances of neutralization in physics, philosophy, or social theory, effortlessly switching between concrete, legal, and metaphorical meanings.

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anular in 30 Sekunden

Anular means to void, cancel, or nullify something, making it invalid as if it never existed in a formal sense.
Commonly used for legal contracts, sports goals (disallowed), and daily appointments or reservations.
It can also describe neutralizing forces in science or suppressing someone's personality in social contexts.
It is a regular -ar verb, making it easy to conjugate in all tenses for Spanish learners.

The Spanish verb anular is a versatile and essential word that primarily translates to "to annul," "to void," "to cancel," or "to nullify." At its core, it describes the action of making something invalid, ineffective, or as if it never existed in a formal or legal sense. While English speakers might reach for the word "cancel" for almost everything, Spanish speakers distinguish between the simple cessation of an activity (cancelar) and the formal declaration that something is void (anular). Understanding this nuance is key to reaching a B1 level of proficiency and beyond.

Legal and Official Contexts: In legal terminology, anular is used when a court or authority declares a contract, a marriage, or a law to be without legal force. It implies that there was a flaw from the beginning that renders the act invalid.

El tribunal decidió anular el contrato por irregularidades procesales.

Beyond the courtroom, anular is frequently heard in the world of sports. When a referee decides that a goal or a point should not count due to a foul or an offside position, they "anulan el tanto." This usage is extremely common in daily sports news and broadcasts. It suggests a physical or mechanical reversal of a previous state. In technical settings, you might anular a command or a function in software, effectively disabling it or overriding its previous instruction.

Psychological and Social Usage: Interestingly, anular can also describe human dynamics. When one person dominates another to the point where the second person loses their autonomy or personality, we say one person is "anulando" the other. This is a more metaphorical and intense usage often found in literature or psychological discussions.

En esa relación tóxica, él terminó por anular la personalidad de ella.

Finally, in everyday logistics, anular is used for appointments, reservations, or tickets. While "cancelar" is perfectly acceptable, "anular una reserva" sounds slightly more formal and precise, indicating that the booking is being struck from the records entirely. It is the standard term you will see on Spanish websites for "voiding" a transaction or "cancelling" a recurring payment at the administrative level.

¿Es posible anular la suscripción antes del próximo cobro?

Scientific and Technical Neutralization: In physics or chemistry, the verb is used to describe the neutralization of forces or effects. If two opposite forces meet and result in zero movement, they "se anulan entre sí" (they cancel each other out). This highlights the mathematical root of the word.

Las dos fuerzas opuestas se anulan, dejando el objeto en reposo.

El árbitro tuvo que anular el gol tras consultar el VAR.

Using anular correctly requires understanding its conjugation as a regular -ar verb and its transitive nature. Since it usually involves an object being voided, you will almost always see it followed by a direct object. In the following sections, we will explore the different grammatical structures where anular appears most frequently.

Direct Object Construction: The most common way to use this verb is [Subject] + [Conjugated Anular] + [Noun Phrase]. This is used for cancelling appointments, contracts, or laws.

La empresa anuló el pedido porque no había existencias.

When the object is a person (in the sense of psychological suppression), remember to use the personal "a." This is a more advanced usage that demonstrates a high level of linguistic nuance. It implies that someone is being made to feel insignificant or is being silenced.

Su jefe intenta anular a todos los empleados creativos.

Reflexive Form: Anularse: The reflexive form anularse is used when two things cancel each other out or when someone suppresses themselves. In scientific contexts, this describes a state of equilibrium achieved through mutual negation.

Los efectos secundarios de los dos medicamentos se anulan entre sí.

In the passive voice, which is very common in news reports and legal documents, anular is used with the verb "ser." For example, "El juicio fue anulado." This structure focuses on the result rather than the person who did the action. It is essential for formal writing.

La sentencia fue anulada por el Tribunal Supremo ayer.

Usage with Infinitives: You will often see anular paired with modal verbs like "deber," "poder," or "querer." This is typical for customer service interactions.

Quisiera anular mi suscripción mensual, por favor.

Finally, consider the use of anular in the imperative mood. A command to "nullify" is rare in casual speech but common in technical manuals or emergency procedures. "¡Anule la operación!" (Cancel the operation!) might be seen in a computer interface or a military context.

Si detecta un error, anule el proceso inmediatamente.

Common Collocations: Common objects of this verb include: voto (vote), matrimonio (marriage), cláusula (clause), cita (appointment), and efecto (effect).

El abogado busca anular una cláusula abusiva del contrato.

If you spend time in a Spanish-speaking country, you will encounter anular in several distinct environments. It is not a word confined to dusty law books; it is part of the living language of sports fans, travelers, and consumers. Knowing where to expect it will help you process information faster in real-world situations.

In the Sports Stadium: Football (soccer) is the king of sports in the Spanish-speaking world. You will hear commentators scream, "¡Gol anulado!" when a goal is disallowed. This is perhaps the most high-stakes use of the word for many people, as it can change the course of a tournament.

La afición protestó cuando el árbitro decidió anular el tanto del empate.

In the realm of travel and hospitality, anular is the standard term used at service counters. If you need to change your plans at a train station (Renfe in Spain, for example) or at an airport, the agent will ask if you want to "anular el billete" (cancel the ticket). On booking websites like Booking.com or Airbnb in Spanish, the button to cancel a stay is often labeled "Anular reserva."

Tuve que anular el vuelo a Madrid debido a una emergencia familiar.

The News and Politics: When following Spanish-language news (CNN en Español, El País, BBC Mundo), you will hear anular in stories about elections, legislation, and judicial rulings. If an election is found to be fraudulent, the results are "anulados." If a high court strikes down a controversial law, they "anulan la ley."

El Tribunal Supremo podría anular los resultados de las elecciones locales.

In a banking or financial context, anular is used when a transaction is reversed or a credit card is voided. If you lose your card, you call the bank to "anular la tarjeta." If a merchant makes a mistake on a charge, they will "anular la transacción" to ensure the money is not deducted from your account.

Administrative and Healthcare Settings: When visiting a doctor or a government office, if you cannot make it to your appointment, you are expected to "anular la cita." This specific verb is preferred over "cancelar" in many formal institutional settings in Spain and Latin America.

Llamé al centro de salud para anular mi cita con el dentista.

Finally, in more abstract conversations about technology or logic, you might hear people discuss how one factor "anula" another. For example, in a debate, a strong argument might "anular" the opponent's previous point. This shows the word's transition from concrete actions to intellectual concepts.

Ese nuevo descubrimiento científico viene a anular las teorías anteriores.

Even for intermediate learners, anular can be tricky because of its proximity to other verbs like "cancelar," "borrar," and "quitar." While they all involve removing or stopping something, their usage is not interchangeable. Let's break down the most common pitfalls to ensure you sound like a native speaker.

Anular vs. Cancelar: This is the most frequent confusion. "Cancelar" is often used for events that were planned but won't happen (a concert, a meeting). "Anular" is used when a formal validity is being revoked. While you can often use both for a "cita" (appointment), you cannot "cancelar" a goal in soccer; it must be "anulado."

Incorrecto: El árbitro canceló el gol.
Correcto: El árbitro anuló el gol.

Another mistake is using anular when you mean "to erase" (borrar). If you have written something on a whiteboard or a piece of paper and you want to remove the ink, you use "borrar." Anular would mean that the text remains visible but is declared invalid (like crossing it out and writing "VOID").

Incorrecto: Anulé la palabra mal escrita con la goma.
Correcto: Borré la palabra mal escrita con la goma.

Misusing the Reflexive: Learners often forget to use the reflexive "se" when two things cancel each other out. If you say "Las fuerzas anulan," it sounds incomplete. It must be "Las fuerzas se anulan." This indicates the mutual action between the two forces.

In legal contexts, students sometimes confuse anular with "derogar." While both involve getting rid of a law, "derogar" is used for the formal legislative process of repealing a law to replace it with a new one. Anular is used when a court decides a law was illegal or unconstitutional from the start.

El parlamento derogó la ley, pero el juez la anuló retroactivamente.

The "Personal A" Trap: When using the metaphorical sense of suppressing a person's will or personality, the "a" is mandatory. Leaving it out is a common error for English speakers who don't have this grammatical feature.

Incorrecto: El dictador quiere anular la oposición.
Correcto: El dictador quiere anular a la oposición.

Finally, don't confuse anular with "posponer" (to postpone). If you call to change a doctor's appointment to a later date, you are "posponiendo" or "cambiando" the appointment. If you "anulas" it, you are removing it from the schedule entirely without a new time.

To truly master anular, you should know its synonyms and how they differ in register and context. Spanish is a rich language with many ways to express the idea of "making something go away" or "making it invalid."

Invalidar: This is the closest synonym. While anular focuses on the act of voiding, invalidar focuses on the fact that something is no longer valid. They are often interchangeable in legal and logical contexts.

La falta de firma puede invalidar el documento completo.

Revocar is another important alternative, specifically used when an authority takes back a permission, a right, or a previous decision. You "revocas" a license or a mandate. It carries a sense of "calling back" (from Latin re-vocare).

Rescindir: This is a very formal, legal term used specifically for contracts. When you "rescind" a contract, you are ending it legally before its natural expiration. It is more technical than anular.

El club decidió rescindir el contrato del entrenador tras los malos resultados.

In a more casual or physical sense, you might use suprimir (to suppress/delete) or eliminar (to eliminate). These are used when something is physically removed or deleted from a list or a text. While anular suggests a loss of validity, eliminar suggests a total disappearance.

Abolir: This is reserved for grand historical or legal changes, such as "abolir la esclavitud" (to abolish slavery) or "abolir la pena de muerte" (to abolish the death penalty). It is much more powerful and permanent than anular.

Muchos países han luchado para abolir leyes discriminatorias.

Finally, in scientific contexts, neutralizar is a common alternative. While anular means the forces result in zero, neutralizar often implies that one thing acts upon another to make it harmless or ineffective, like an acid neutralizing a base.

El antídoto sirve para neutralizar el efecto del veneno.

How Formal Is It?

Formell

Neutral

Informell

Child friendly

Umgangssprache

Wusstest du?

The word 'anular' for the ring finger comes from 'anulus' (little ring), which shares the same Latin root as 'anillo'. So 'anular' (to void) and 'anular' (ring finger) are linguistic cousins because a ring is a circle (zero/nothing) and voiding something makes it zero.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /a.nuˈlaɾ/

US /a.nuˈlaɾ/

The stress is on the last syllable: an-u-LAR.

Reimt sich auf

Hablar Cantar Llegar Pensar Lugar Mar Azar Bailar

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing the 'u' like the English 'u' in 'unit' (don't say an-yoo-lar).
Stress on the first or second syllable (don't say AN-u-lar).
Forgetting to tap the 'r' at the end.
Pronouncing the 'a' like 'apple' (it should be 'ah').
Mixing it up with the English word 'annular' which refers to a ring shape.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 3/5

Common in news and legal texts, but usually clear from context.

Schreiben 3/5

Regular conjugation makes it easy to write, but choosing it over 'cancelar' requires thought.

Sprechen 4/5

Requires correct stress on the final syllable to sound natural.

Hören 3/5

Easily recognized due to its similarity to 'annul'.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

Cancelar Nulo Cita Contrato Gol

Als Nächstes lernen

Revocar Rescindir Derogar Invalidar Nulidad

Fortgeschritten

Prevaricación Jurisprudencia Quórum Casación

Wichtige Grammatik

Regular -ar verb conjugation

Yo anulo, tú anulas, él anula...

Passive Voice with 'ser'

El contrato fue anulado por el juez.

Personal 'a' with human objects

El jefe intentó anular a su empleado.

Reflexive for mutual actions

Las dos deudas se anulan.

Subjunctive for doubt/desire

No quiero que anulen la fiesta.

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Beispiele nach Niveau

Tengo que anular mi cita con el médico.

I have to cancel my appointment with the doctor.

Present tense, 'anular' as an infinitive after 'tengo que'.

¿Puedo anular la reserva del hotel?

Can I cancel the hotel reservation?

Question form using 'poder' + infinitive.

Él anula el pedido de comida.

He cancels the food order.

Present tense, 3rd person singular.

Nosotros anulamos la clase de hoy.

We are cancelling today's class.

Present tense, 1st person plural.

Ella quiere anular su suscripción.

She wants to cancel her subscription.

Infinitive after the verb 'querer'.

Ellos anulan la reunión de la tarde.

They cancel the afternoon meeting.

Present tense, 3rd person plural.

No puedo ir, voy a anular mi entrada.

I can't go, I'm going to cancel my ticket.

Near future 'ir a' + infinitive.

Usted debe anular el contrato ahora.

You must cancel the contract now.

Formal 'usted' with modal 'debe'.

Ayer anulé mi viaje a la playa.

Yesterday I cancelled my trip to the beach.

Pretérito indefinido, 1st person singular.

El árbitro anuló el gol por fuera de juego.

The referee disallowed the goal for offside.

Pretérito indefinido, 3rd person singular.

¿Anulaste el ticket del aparcamiento?

Did you cancel the parking ticket?

Pretérito indefinido, 2nd person singular.

El banco anuló mi tarjeta de crédito.

The bank cancelled my credit card.

Pretérito indefinido, 3rd person singular.

Anulamos la compra porque era muy cara.

We cancelled the purchase because it was too expensive.

Pretérito indefinido, 1st person plural.

Ellos anularon el concierto por la lluvia.

They cancelled the concert because of the rain.

Pretérito indefinido, 3rd person plural.

Si no pagas, van a anular tu cuenta.

If you don't pay, they are going to cancel your account.

Conditional sentence with 'ir a' + infinitive.

Me gustaría anular este cargo en mi cuenta.

I would like to void this charge on my account.

Conditional 'gustaría' + infinitive.

El juez decidió anular el juicio por falta de pruebas.

The judge decided to annul the trial due to lack of evidence.

Infinitive after 'decidió'.

Es necesario anular estas cláusulas del contrato.

It is necessary to nullify these clauses of the contract.

Impersonal expression 'es necesario'.

Las dos fuerzas se anulan y el objeto no se mueve.

The two forces cancel each other out and the object doesn't move.

Reflexive use 'se anulan'.

Dudo que anulen el examen a última hora.

I doubt they will cancel the exam at the last minute.

Present subjunctive after 'dudo que'.

Si hubieras avisado antes, habríamos podido anular la reserva.

If you had let us know earlier, we would have been able to cancel the reservation.

Third conditional (Si + pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo).

El gobierno quiere anular la ley anterior.

The government wants to nullify the previous law.

Present tense with 'querer'.

Fue difícil anular todos los compromisos de la semana.

It was difficult to cancel all the commitments for the week.

Impersonal 'fue difícil'.

Al anular el pedido, recibí un correo de confirmación.

Upon cancelling the order, I received a confirmation email.

'Al' + infinitive construction (meaning 'when' or 'upon').

La sentencia fue anulada por un defecto de forma.

The sentence was overturned due to a procedural error.

Passive voice with 'ser'.

En las relaciones tóxicas, uno suele anular al otro.

In toxic relationships, one person usually suppresses the other.

Metaphorical use with personal 'a'.

El Tribunal Constitucional podría anular el decreto ley.

The Constitutional Court could nullify the executive decree.

Conditional 'podría' + infinitive.

Sus miedos terminaron por anular su capacidad de decisión.

His fears ended up neutralizing his ability to make decisions.

Periphrasis 'terminar por' + infinitive.

Es fundamental que se anulen los privilegios injustos.

It is fundamental that unfair privileges be abolished.

Passive reflexive with subjunctive 'que se anulen'.

La empresa busca anular la competencia bajando los precios.

The company seeks to neutralize the competition by lowering prices.

Present tense 'busca' + infinitive.

No dejes que nadie anule tu personalidad.

Don't let anyone suppress your personality.

Negative imperative 'no dejes' + subjunctive.

El efecto del veneno se anula con este antídoto.

The effect of the poison is neutralized with this antidote.

Reflexive passive 'se anula'.

La nueva jurisprudencia tiende a anular los actos viciados de nulidad absoluta.

New case law tends to annul acts tainted by absolute nullity.

Formal academic register.

El ruido blanco se utiliza para anular las distracciones auditivas.

White noise is used to cancel out auditory distractions.

Technical use of 'anular'.

Su elocuencia logró anular por completo los argumentos de la defensa.

His eloquence managed to completely invalidate the defense's arguments.

Metaphorical use in rhetoric.

La falta de quórum obligó a anular la votación del parlamento.

The lack of a quorum forced the annulment of the parliamentary vote.

Formal administrative context.

El trauma puede llegar a anular ciertos recuerdos de la infancia.

Trauma can end up blocking certain childhood memories.

Psychological usage.

Las políticas de austeridad no deben anular los derechos sociales básicos.

Austerity policies must not override basic social rights.

Political/Ethical discourse.

Resulta imposible anular el impacto emocional de tal noticia.

It proves impossible to nullify the emotional impact of such news.

Impersonal 'resulta'.

El contrato queda anulado ipso facto tras el incumplimiento.

The contract is voided ipso facto upon the breach.

Legal Latinism 'ipso facto' with 'quedar anulado'.

La dialéctica hegeliana propone que los contrarios se anulan para dar paso a una síntesis superior.

Hegelian dialectics proposes that opposites negate each other to give way to a higher synthesis.

Philosophical register.

El fiscal solicitó anular las actuaciones por considerar que hubo prevaricación.

The prosecutor requested to annul the proceedings, considering that there was malfeasance.

High-level legal terminology.

La intertextualidad puede anular la autoría original en favor de una voz colectiva.

Intertextuality can negate original authorship in favor of a collective voice.

Literary theory context.

Es imperativo anular cualquier vestigio de autoritarismo en las instituciones.

It is imperative to eradicate any vestige of authoritarianism in the institutions.

Formal political rhetoric.

La sofisticación del algoritmo permite anular el ruido de fondo en tiempo real.

The sophistication of the algorithm allows for the cancellation of background noise in real-time.

Technical/Engineering context.

El existencialismo explora la angustia de que la nada pueda anular el sentido de la vida.

Existentialism explores the anguish that nothingness might nullify the meaning of life.

Philosophical/Existential usage.

Las medidas cautelares buscan anular el riesgo de fuga del procesado.

Precautionary measures seek to neutralize the risk of the defendant fleeing.

Legal/Procedural context.

La desregulación financiera no debería anular la estabilidad macroeconómica.

Financial deregulation should not undermine macroeconomic stability.

Economic discourse.

Häufige Kollokationen

Anular un gol

Anular un contrato

Anular la reserva

Anular una cita

Anular el efecto

Anular un voto

Anular el matrimonio

Anular la voluntad

Anular una suscripción

Anular la tarjeta

Häufige Phrasen

Quedar anulado

— To become void or cancelled. Used to describe the state of something.

El acuerdo queda anulado desde este momento.

Anular por completo

— To totally nullify or invalidate something without exception.

La lluvia anuló por completo nuestros planes.

Dedo anular

— The ring finger. While a noun, it's the most common related phrase.

Lleva el anillo en el dedo anular.

Anular de oficio

— When an authority voids something automatically without a request.

El juez puede anular el proceso de oficio.

Anular una orden

— To countermand or cancel an instruction given previously.

El capitán tuvo que anular la orden de ataque.

Anular una transacción

— To void a financial charge or exchange.

El cajero tuvo que anular la transacción errónea.

Anular la personalidad

— To suppress someone's character or identity.

Su madre intentó anular su personalidad desde niña.

Anular el juicio

— To declare a trial mistrial or void.

El tribunal superior decidió anular el juicio.

Anular una ley

— To strike down a law, usually by a high court.

El Tribunal Supremo anuló la ley de vivienda.

Anularse entre sí

— To cancel each other out (reciprocal).

El ruido y el silencio se anulan en esta habitación.

Wird oft verwechselt mit

anular vs Anual

Anual means 'annual' (happening once a year). Anular is the verb 'to annul'.

anular vs Anular (finger)

The ring finger is called 'dedo anular'. Context usually makes the difference clear.

anular vs Anidar

Anidar means 'to nest'. It sounds similar but has a completely different meaning.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"Anular a alguien"

— To dominate someone so much they lose their voice or will.

Su pareja lo ha anulado por completo.

Informal/Emotional

"Estar anulado"

— To feel useless, blocked, or invisible in a social setting.

En esa empresa me siento anulado.

Informal

"Anular la distancia"

— To overcome the gap or distance between two people or things.

La tecnología ayuda a anular la distancia entre nosotros.

Poetic

"Anular el tiempo"

— To make time feel like it doesn't exist or doesn't matter.

Su belleza parece anular el tiempo.

Literary

"Anular el pasado"

— To act as if the past never happened or has no influence.

No puedes simplemente anular el pasado con una disculpa.

Reflective

"Anular la diferencia"

— To make two different things seem the same or equal.

Ese acuerdo busca anular la diferencia de salarios.

Political

"Anular el riesgo"

— To completely remove any possibility of danger.

Estas medidas pretenden anular el riesgo de contagio.

Formal

"Anular el pensamiento"

— To stop someone from thinking critically or at all.

La propaganda intenta anular el pensamiento crítico.

Intellectual

"Anular la ventaja"

— To lose or take away a head start or benefit.

El error del defensa anuló la ventaja que tenían.

Sports/General

"Anular el sentido"

— To make something lose its meaning or logic.

Tus acciones anulan el sentido de tus palabras.

Philosophical

Leicht verwechselbar

anular vs Borrar

Both involve 'removing' something.

Borrar is physical (erasing ink or a file). Anular is legal or conceptual (voiding the validity while the object might still exist).

Borré el error con la goma, pero el juez anuló el documento.

anular vs Cancelar

They are often synonyms in English ('cancel').

Cancelar is for events or time-based services. Anular is for validity, goals, and formal contracts.

Cancelé la fiesta, pero tuve que anular el contrato de alquiler.

anular vs Quitar

Both can mean 'to take away'.

Quitar is a general verb for removing physical objects. Anular is for abstract validity.

Quité el jarrón de la mesa, pero el árbitro anuló el gol.

anular vs Posponer

Both involve changing a planned event.

Posponer moves it to a later time. Anular removes it entirely from existence/validity.

No lo pospongas, mejor anula la cita si no vas a ir.

anular vs Derogar

Both are used for laws.

Derogar is the legislative act of repealing. Anular is the judicial act of declaring it void (often because it was illegal).

El congreso derogó la ley, pero el tribunal ya la había anulado.

Satzmuster

Quiero anular [sustantivo]

Quiero anular mi cita.

[Sujeto] anuló [sustantivo]

El banco anuló mi tarjeta.

Es posible que [sujeto] anule [sustantivo]

Es posible que el juez anule el contrato.

[Sujeto] fue anulado/a por [causa]

La boda fue anulada por la iglesia.

[Sujeto] tiende a anular [concepto]

Esta política tiende a anular la iniciativa privada.

[Sujeto] se anula ante [circunstancia]

Su autoridad se anula ante la evidencia de los hechos.

Al anular [sustantivo], [consecuencia]

Al anular el pedido, perdí el descuento.

No dejes que [persona] te anule

No dejes que tu jefe te anule.

Wortfamilie

Substantive

Verben

Adjektive

Verwandt

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So verwendest du es

frequency

High, especially in sports, law, and customer service.

Häufige Fehler

Usar 'cancelar' para un gol. → Anular un gol.
En el fútbol, los goles se anulan, no se cancelan.
Confundir 'anular' con 'anual'. → Anular (verbo), Anual (adjetivo).
'Anual' significa que ocurre cada año. 'Anular' es invalidar algo.
Olvidar la 'a' personal con personas. → Anular a alguien.
Cuando el objeto es una persona (en sentido psicológico), se requiere la 'a'.
Usar 'anular' para borrar con goma. → Borrar el error.
'Anular' es para validez legal, 'borrar' es para eliminar marcas físicas.
No usar el reflexivo para fuerzas opuestas. → Las fuerzas se anulan.
Si dos cosas se cancelan mutuamente, el verbo debe ser reflexivo.

Tipps

Legal Precision

Always use 'anular' when talking about laws or contracts being struck down. It makes you sound authoritative.

The VAR Word

If you follow football, remember that the referee 'anula el gol'. You will hear this constantly in highlights.

The Ring Connection

Connect 'anular' to 'anillo' (ring). The ring finger is the 'dedo anular'. It's a great way to remember the word.

Reflexive Power

Don't forget the 'se' in 'se anulan' when talking about two things cancelling each other out.

Formal Emails

In a formal email to a company, use 'Deseo anular mi pedido' instead of 'Quiero cancelar' for a more professional tone.

Make it Null

Think of the database term 'NULL'. To 'anular' is to turn something into a 'null' value.

Latin Roots

The root is 'nullus' (none). If you know 'null' in English, you already know the heart of 'anular'.

Protest Votes

A 'voto nulo' is a powerful political concept in many Spanish-speaking countries.

Not 'Borrar'

Remember: you 'borrar' a file, but you 'anular' a contract. One is physical/digital, the other is legal.

Stress the End

The 'AR' at the end of 'anular' is the strongest part. Don't let it fade away.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of the word 'NULL'. When you 'a-NULL-ar', you make it 'NULL' and void. It sounds like 'annul' in English, which means the same thing in legal contexts.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a giant red 'VOID' stamp hitting a contract. That action is 'anular'. Or imagine a referee crossing his arms to signal a disallowed goal.

Word Web

Nulo Cero Contrato Gol Cita Reserva Voto Ley

Herausforderung

Try to use 'anular' three times today: once for an appointment, once for a sports discussion, and once for a technical problem with your phone or computer.

Wortherkunft

From the Latin verb 'annullare', which is a combination of 'ad-' (to) and 'nullus' (none, nothing).

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: To bring to nothing or to make into nothing.

Romance (Latin root)

Kultureller Kontext

When using 'anular' to describe people (anular a alguien), be aware that it describes a form of psychological control or abuse. Use it carefully in sensitive social contexts.

English speakers often use 'cancel' for everything. In Spanish, using 'anular' for legal or sports contexts makes you sound much more native and precise.

The VAR (Video Assistant Referee) in La Liga often leads to an 'anulación de gol'. Historical annulments of royal marriages in Spanish history. The song 'Anular' by various Latin artists exploring the suppression of feelings.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Legal/Official

Anular el contrato
Anular el matrimonio
Anular la ley
Anular la sentencia

Sports

Anular el gol
Anular el punto
Anular la jugada
Anular la carrera

Customer Service

Anular la reserva
Anular el pedido
Anular la suscripción
Anular la tarjeta

Medical/Appointments

Anular la cita
Anular la consulta
Anular el turno
Anular la operación

Science/Logic

Anular el efecto
Anular la fuerza
Anular la variable
Anularse mutuamente

Gesprächseinstiege

"¿Alguna vez has tenido que anular un viaje importante en el último momento?"

"¿Qué opinas de que el VAR pueda anular un gol cinco minutos después de que ocurra?"

"¿Crees que es fácil anular una suscripción de gimnasio en este país?"

"¿Has sentido alguna vez que alguien intentaba anular tu personalidad en el trabajo?"

"¿Sabes qué documentos se necesitan para anular un contrato de alquiler?"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Describe una situación en la que tuviste que anular tus planes por algo inesperado.

Escribe sobre una ley que creas que el gobierno debería anular y por qué.

Reflexiona sobre cómo las redes sociales pueden anular nuestra capacidad de atención.

Imagina que eres un árbitro: justifica por qué decidiste anular el gol de la victoria.

Escribe un diálogo en el que un cliente intenta anular un contrato muy difícil.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

Usa 'anular' para contratos, votos, goles en deportes y cuando quieras sonar más formal al cancelar una reserva. Usa 'cancelar' para eventos sociales, reuniones informales o suscripciones básicas.

Sí, es completamente regular en todos los tiempos. Sigue el patrón de los verbos terminados en -ar como 'amar' o 'saltar'.

Es el nombre del cuarto dedo de la mano, donde tradicionalmente se pone el anillo de compromiso o matrimonio. Proviene de la misma raíz que 'anillo'.

Sí, pero tiene un significado psicológico. Significa dominar a alguien tanto que pierde su propia voluntad o capacidad de decidir.

Se dice 'anular un gol'. Nunca se dice 'cancelar un gol' en el contexto del fútbol.

El sustantivo principal es 'anulación'. También existe 'nulidad' para referirse a la cualidad de ser nulo.

Si te refieres a que el profesor no lo cuente, sí. Si te refieres a borrarlo con una goma, usa 'borrar'.

Significa que tienen la misma intensidad pero direcciones opuestas, por lo que el resultado final es cero movimiento.

Sí, es muy común. 'Anular el vuelo' o 'anular el billete' se usa tanto como 'cancelar'.

Se dice 'cheque anulado'. Normalmente se escribe la palabra 'ANULADO' en grande sobre el cheque.

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