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B1 verb #3,000 most common 13 min read

aplazar

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Practice it Examples Notes & Tips aplazar in 30 Seconds

Explanation aplazar in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'aplazar' is a bit advanced, but you might see it in simple schedules or hear it in a doctor's office. Think of it as 'rescheduling' or 'moving' a date. At this level, you don't need to worry about complex grammar. Just remember that it means something will happen later than planned. You might see it on a sign at a bus station or in a simple email. For example, if a class is moved from Monday to Tuesday, the teacher might say 'aplazar la clase'. It is helpful to associate it with 'mañana' (tomorrow) or 'otro día' (another day). Don't worry about the spelling changes in the past tense yet; focus on the present tense: 'Yo aplazo', 'Tú aplazas'. If you can use it to say you want to move a meeting with a friend, you are doing great! It is a useful word for basic time management in Spanish. You can use it with the word 'para' to say when the new time is. For example, 'aplazar para el lunes' (postpone for Monday). Even at A1, knowing this word makes you sound more organized than just saying 'no puedo' (I can't). It shows you want to do the activity, just at a different time. Keep it simple and use it for dates, times, and appointments.

At the A2 level, you should start using 'aplazar' to talk about your daily plans and responsibilities. You are likely learning about the future and past tenses, so you can practice saying 'Voy a aplazar mi viaje' (I am going to postpone my trip) or 'Aplacamos la reunión' (We postponed the meeting). Note that in the 'nosotros' form, there is no spelling change, so it is easy! At this level, you should understand the difference between 'aplazar' and 'cancelar'. 'Cancelar' means it's gone, but 'aplazar' means it's coming later. This is important for making plans with friends or at work. You can also start using it with simple reasons: 'aplazar por la lluvia' (postpone because of the rain) or 'aplazar por trabajo' (postpone because of work). You will hear this word in public announcements, like at a train station if a departure is moved. It is a good word to have in your 'survival Spanish' toolkit because it helps you handle changes in your schedule without getting stressed. Try to use it in your writing exercises when talking about a busy week or a change in your routine. It shows a step up from the very basic vocabulary of A1.

At the B1 level, 'aplazar' becomes a key verb for professional and social interactions. You are now expected to handle more complex situations, such as explaining why a deadline needs to be moved or negotiating a new date for a project. You should be comfortable with the spelling change in the preterite 'yo' form: 'Aplacé la cita porque estaba enfermo'. You should also start using the noun form 'aplazamiento' (postponement). At this level, you can distinguish between 'aplazar' and 'posponer', and you might notice that 'aplazar' is very common in formal documents and news. You can use it in the subjunctive to express wishes or requests: 'Espero que no aplacen el examen' (I hope they don't postpone the exam). This level is about nuance; you use 'aplazar' when you want to sound more formal or precise. You might also encounter it in financial contexts, like 'aplazar un pago' (to postpone a payment), which is useful for banking. You should be able to read a news article and understand why an event was postponed. It's also a great word for discussing procrastination in a more sophisticated way than just saying 'soy perezoso' (I am lazy). Instead, you can say 'suelo aplazar mis tareas' (I tend to postpone my tasks).

At the B2 level, you should use 'aplazar' fluently in both formal and informal contexts. You understand its legal and bureaucratic implications. For example, you can talk about 'aplazar un juicio' (postponing a trial) or 'aplazar la entrada en vigor de una ley' (postponing the coming into force of a law). You are comfortable using the verb in all tenses, including the conditional ('Yo aplazaría la reunión si fuera tú') and the imperfect subjunctive ('Si aplazaran el proyecto, tendríamos más tiempo'). You can also use it in more abstract ways, such as 'aplazar la felicidad' (postponing happiness) or 'aplazar una decisión importante'. At this level, you should be able to compare 'aplazar' with other verbs like 'prorrogar' or 'diferir' and choose the correct one based on the context. You understand that 'aplazar' is transitive and usually requires an object. You can also use the passive 'se' construction naturally: 'Se ha decidido aplazar el evento indefinidamente'. Your vocabulary is rich enough to use collocations like 'aplazar sine die' (to postpone indefinitely/without a set date). This level of mastery allows you to participate in business meetings or academic discussions where scheduling and deadlines are frequently discussed.

At the C1 level, your use of 'aplazar' is precise and context-aware. You can use it to discuss complex administrative procedures or legal delays. You understand the subtle difference between 'aplazar' and 'diferir' in a financial report or a legal brief. You can use the word in sophisticated sentence structures, incorporating it into long, complex thoughts: 'Dada la coyuntura económica actual, la junta directiva se vio obligada a aplazar la expansión internacional hasta el tercer trimestre del próximo año'. You also recognize the word in literature or high-level journalism, where it might be used metaphorically. You can discuss the societal implications of 'aplazar la maternidad' or 'aplazar la jubilación'. Your command of the spelling changes and irregular-looking forms (like the subjunctive 'aplace') is perfect. You can also use the word in the context of 'aplazar' as a synonym for 'suspender' in some educational systems (where it means to fail or delay a grade). You are able to explain the etymology of the word (from 'plazo') to others. At this level, 'aplazar' is just one of many tools you have to describe time and intention, and you use it with the same ease and variety as a native speaker in a professional or academic environment.

At the C2 level, 'aplazar' is a word you use with total mastery, often in highly specialized contexts. You might use it in a legal setting to discuss the 'aplazamiento de una ejecución' or in a high-stakes corporate negotiation to 'aplazar el cierre de una adquisición'. You are sensitive to the stylistic choices between 'aplazar', 'posponer', 'diferir', and 'dilatar', and you choose the one that perfectly fits the tone of your discourse. You can use the word in rhetorical ways or in academic writing to describe historical delays or philosophical concepts of time. Your understanding of the word is so deep that you can play with its meaning in creative writing or complex oratory. You might use it in a phrase like 'aplazar lo inevitable', discussing themes of destiny or fate. You are also fully aware of regional variations and how the word might be perceived in different parts of the Spanish-speaking world. In a professional capacity, you could draft a formal notification of postponement that is legally sound and linguistically elegant. For you, 'aplazar' is not just a verb, but a concept that you can manipulate to express the finest shades of meaning regarding time, obligation, and human action. You can even identify and correct subtle misuses of the word by others, demonstrating a native-like intuition for its proper application.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

aplazar in 30 Seconds

Aplazar means to postpone or defer an event or task to a later date. It is a formal and very common verb in Spanish.
It is derived from the word 'plazo' (deadline). Use it when rescheduling meetings, exams, or appointments to a future time.
Be careful with the spelling: in the 'yo' preterite form, it becomes 'aplacé', and in the subjunctive, it becomes 'aplace'.
Common synonyms include 'posponer' and 'retrasar', but 'aplazar' is specifically about moving the scheduled time, not necessarily being late.

The Spanish verb aplazar is a fundamental term for anyone navigating professional, academic, or social environments in the Spanish-speaking world. At its core, it means to postpone or defer an action, event, or decision to a later date or time. The word is derived from the noun plazo, which refers to a term, period, or deadline. Therefore, when you aplazas something, you are essentially extending the 'plazo' or moving the deadline further into the future. It is a versatile verb that functions similarly to the English 'to put off' or 'to delay', but it carries a slightly more formal and intentional weight than the informal English phrasal verbs. In everyday life, you might hear this word in the context of a doctor's appointment that needs to be moved, a football match delayed by rain, or a government decree that has been pushed back due to political negotiations. It is important to distinguish aplazar from cancelar (to cancel); while a cancellation implies the event will no longer happen, an aplazamiento (the noun form) guarantees that the event is still intended to occur, just not at the originally scheduled time. This distinction is crucial in legal and business contexts where obligations remain binding despite the delay.

Grammatical Category: Verb (First conjugation -ar). It follows regular patterns except for orthographic changes in the 'yo' form of the preterite (aplacé) and throughout the present subjunctive (aplace) to maintain the soft 'th' or 's' sound of the 'z' before the letter 'e'.

Debido a la tormenta, el comité decidió aplazar el festival hasta el próximo fin de semana.

In professional settings, aplazar is the standard way to discuss rescheduling meetings or deadlines. It sounds professional and precise. In contrast, using a word like retrasar might sometimes imply a negative connotation of being late or causing an unwanted delay, whereas aplazar often suggests a deliberate, administrative decision. For example, 'aplazar un pago' (to defer a payment) is a common financial term used by banks and creditors. Understanding the nuances of this word allows a learner to navigate bureaucratic hurdles in Spanish-speaking countries with greater ease. Whether you are dealing with a university enrollment deadline or a visa application, knowing how to ask '¿Es posible aplazar la fecha de entrega?' (Is it possible to postpone the delivery date?) is an essential skill for B1 level students and beyond. Culturally, while there is a stereotype of 'mañana' (tomorrow) in some Spanish-speaking regions, the use of aplazar in a formal context is taken quite seriously and usually involves a formal request and approval process. It is not just a casual 'I will do it later', but a formal 'we are rescheduling this'.

Synonyms in Context: Posponer (often interchangeable), diferir (more formal/legal), prorrogar (specifically for extending a duration or contract).

No podemos aplazar más esta decisión; el tiempo se agota.

Finally, it is worth noting the psychological aspect of aplazar. In the context of procrastination, Spanish speakers might say 'aplazar las tareas' (to put off tasks). While procrastinar is a recognized word in Spanish, aplazar is much more frequently used in daily conversation to describe the act of pushing things to a later time. By mastering this verb, you gain a tool to manage time, expectations, and commitments in Spanish with the same precision as a native speaker.

Using aplazar correctly requires understanding its transitive nature; you usually aplazar something (a noun). The most common structure is aplazar + [objeto] + para/hasta + [tiempo]. For instance, 'Aplazaron la boda para el próximo año' (They postponed the wedding for next year). This structure clearly defines what is being moved and when it is being moved to. Another common structure is using it in the passive voice or with 'se' to indicate that an event has been postponed without focusing on who did it: 'Se ha aplazado la reunión' (The meeting has been postponed). This is very frequent in news headlines and corporate emails.

Common Objects: Exámenes, reuniones, citas médicas, juicios, pagos, lanzamientos de productos, y viajes.

El profesor tuvo que aplazar el examen final porque muchos alumnos estaban enfermos.

When using aplazar in the past tense, remember the spelling change: 'Yo aplacé la cita' (I postponed the appointment). The 'z' changes to 'c' because in Spanish, 'z' rarely appears before 'e' or 'i'. This is a common pitfall for learners. In the present tense, it is perfectly regular: 'Él aplaza sus problemas en lugar de resolverlos' (He postpones his problems instead of solving them). This sentence highlights a more figurative use of the word, dealing with abstract concepts like problems or decisions.

Prepositions: 'Para' (for a specific date), 'hasta' (until a certain time), 'indefinidamente' (indefinitely).

La directiva decidió aplazar el proyecto indefinidamente por falta de fondos.

In the context of sports, you will often see 'partido aplazado' on a scoreboard or schedule. This indicates that the match was not played and will be rescheduled. It is a very specific terminology that sports fans should know. In legal Spanish, 'aplazar la vista' (to postpone the hearing) is a standard phrase used when a trial cannot proceed. The verb is also essential for students; 'aplazar un semestre' means to defer a semester, a common action for students taking a gap year or facing personal issues.

Advanced Structure: 'No hay que aplazar para mañana lo que puedes hacer hoy' (Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today). This is a common proverb using the verb.

Si sigues aplazando tu visita al dentista, el dolor empeorará.

Using the gerund form 'aplazando' is common when describing a continuous habit of procrastination. By integrating these various structures, you can express complex ideas about time management and scheduling with confidence.

You will encounter aplazar in a variety of real-world scenarios, ranging from the highly formal to the moderately casual. In the news, it is a staple word for political and economic reporting. For example, a news anchor might report: 'El gobierno ha decidido aplazar la votación de la nueva ley de impuestos hasta que se alcance un consenso'. This usage highlights the word's role in describing official delays in governance. In the corporate world, it is the language of emails and Slack messages. If a manager needs to reschedule a sync, they might write: 'Siento tener que aplazar nuestra sesión de hoy; me ha surgido una urgencia'. This is more polite and professional than saying 'no puedo ir' (I can't go).

In the News: Headlines like 'La FIFA aplaza los partidos de clasificación' or 'El juicio por corrupción se aplaza por tercera vez' are extremely common.

Escuché en la radio que van a aplazar el concierto por el mal tiempo.

In educational settings, students often hear this word from their professors or administrative offices. An announcement might read: 'Se aplaza la fecha límite de entrega del ensayo final'. For a student, this is usually a welcome relief. In legal contexts, the word is indispensable. Lawyers and judges use it to refer to the suspension of a proceeding to a later date. 'El juez aceptó aplazar la vista oral' means the judge agreed to postpone the oral hearing.

Travel and Transport: At airports or train stations, you might see 'vuelo aplazado' or 'salida aplazada'. While 'retrasado' (delayed) is more common for short delays, 'aplazado' is used for significant rescheduling, such as a flight moved to the next day.

¿Podemos aplazar la cena? Es que todavía no he terminado de trabajar.

In everyday social life, you use it with friends when plans change. '¿Te importa si aplazamos lo del cine para el viernes?' is a very natural way to ask to move a movie date. It sounds more organized than '¿lo hacemos otro día?'.

Financial Services: When buying something expensive, you might see the option to 'aplazar el pago' (postpone/finance the payment), allowing you to pay in installments later.

La tienda me permitió aplazar las cuotas de mi préstamo sin intereses.

Hearing aplazar in these contexts helps you realize that it's not just a textbook word, but a vital part of the linguistic fabric of daily life in Spanish.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make when using aplazar is confusing it with other verbs that mean 'to delay' or 'to move'. For instance, learners often use retrasar and aplazar interchangeably. While they are close, retrasar often implies that something is running late or is being slowed down (like a train or a clock), whereas aplazar specifically refers to rescheduling an event to a future time. If you say 'el tren se aplazó', it sounds like the train service was rescheduled to another day, which is unlikely; you should say 'el tren se retrasó' (the train was late).

Confusion with 'Aplastar': Due to the similar phonetic start, some beginners confuse 'aplazar' with 'aplastar' (to crush or flatten). Saying 'aplasté la reunión' would mean you crushed the meeting, which is quite a different image!

Error: Aplasté mi cita médica. Correcto: Aplacé mi cita médica.

Another common error is the spelling change in the preterite 'yo' form. Many students write 'aplazé', but the correct spelling is 'aplacé'. This is a rule in Spanish: 'z' changes to 'c' before 'e' or 'i'. This also applies to the present subjunctive: 'Espero que no lo aplacen' (I hope they don't postpone it). Forgetting this rule is a hallmark of an intermediate learner who hasn't yet polished their orthography.

Incorrect Prepositions: English speakers often want to say 'aplazar por' because they think of 'postpone for'. In Spanish, you usually use 'para' for the new date ('lo aplazamos para el lunes') or 'hasta' for the duration of the delay ('lo aplazamos hasta el lunes'). Using 'por' usually indicates the reason for the delay ('lo aplazamos por la lluvia').

Aplacamos el evento para mañana (Correct) vs. Aplacamos el evento por mañana (Incorrect meaning).

Furthermore, some learners use posponer exclusively because it sounds like the English 'postpone'. While posponer is correct, relying on it too much can make your Spanish sound a bit repetitive or limited. Aplazar is often the more natural choice in Spain and in many formal contexts across Latin America. Finally, don't confuse aplazar with alargar (to lengthen/stretch). If you want to say a meeting lasted longer than expected, you use se alargó, not se aplazó.

Reflexive Misuse: Learners sometimes say 'me aplazo' thinking it means 'I am late'. This is incorrect. You 'aplacas' an event, or an event 'se aplaza'. You don't 'aplazar yourself' unless you are rescheduling your own appearance in a very specific way.

La conferencia se aplazó debido a problemas técnicos.

avoiding these common pitfalls will make your use of aplazar much more natural and precise.

To truly master the concept of postponing in Spanish, it is helpful to look at the family of words surrounding aplazar and its alternatives. Each has a slightly different shade of meaning.

Posponer: This is the closest synonym to 'aplazar'. It is widely used and perfectly correct. In some regions, especially in parts of Latin America, it is more common than 'aplazar' in daily conversation. Example: 'Vamos a posponer la reunión'.
Diferir: This is a more formal and academic term. It is often used in legal, financial, or philosophical contexts. For example, 'diferir el pago de impuestos' (to defer tax payments). It implies a more structured or official delay.
Retrasar: While often used as a synonym, it specifically means 'to make late' or 'to delay'. If a flight is 'retrasado', it means it is behind schedule. If it is 'aplazado', it might have been moved to tomorrow.

El director decidió prorrogar el plazo de inscripción por una semana más.

Demorar: Common in the Southern Cone (Argentina, Uruguay), 'demorar' can mean both 'to delay' and 'to take time'. 'No demores' means 'don't be long'. In the context of rescheduling, it is less common than 'aplazar' but still heard.

Tuvimos que suspender la sesión, pero esperamos reanudarla pronto.

Understanding these alternatives allows you to choose the word that fits the register and the specific type of delay you are describing. If you are writing a formal letter to a bank, diferir or aplazar are your best bets. if you are talking to a friend about a movie, posponer or aplazar work perfectly. By expanding your vocabulary with these synonyms, you move from a basic level of communication to a more nuanced and sophisticated use of the Spanish language.

Antonyms: Adelantar (to move forward/bring forward), anticipar (to anticipate/bring forward), cumplir (to fulfill/meet a deadline).

En lugar de aplazar la cita, decidieron adelantarla para hoy mismo.

Mastering these contrasts will help you navigate any scheduling conflict in Spanish with ease.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

"Le rogamos que acepte aplazar el pago de la deuda."

Neutral

"Han tenido que aplazar el examen por la huelga."

Informal

"¿Aplacamos lo de las cañas para el jueves?"

Child friendly

"Vamos a aplazar el juego de hoy porque está lloviendo."

Slang

"Tío, no me des largas y no aplaces más lo que me debes."

Fun Fact

The word 'plaza' (square/place) also comes from a similar Latin root, as a 'plaza' was an agreed-upon place for people to meet.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /a.pla.'θaɾ/

US /a.pla.'saɾ/

The stress is on the last syllable: a-pla-ZAR.

Rhymes With

cazar trazar azar almorzar rechazar abrazar disfrazar adelantar

Common Errors

Pronouncing the 'z' like an English 'z' (vibrating). In Spanish, it is always unvoiced (th or s).
Missing the 'r' at the end.
Stressing the second syllable instead of the last.
Confusing the 'a' sound with the English 'ay' sound.
Pronouncing the 'p' with too much aspiration (puff of air).

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Common in news and signs, easy to recognize once you know 'plazo'.

Writing 3/5

Requires remembering the z-to-c spelling change in certain tenses.

Speaking 2/5

Easy to pronounce, though the 'z' varies by region.

Listening 2/5

Clearly articulated in formal announcements.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

tiempo mañana fecha reunión plazo

Learn Next

prorrogar diferir adelantar cancelar gestionar

Advanced

sine die perentorio moratoria dilación coyuntura

Grammar to Know

Z to C Orthographic Change

Yo aplacé (Preterite), Que yo aplace (Subjunctive).

Transitive Verb Usage

Aplazar + Direct Object (Aplazar la cita).

Passive 'Se'

Se aplaza el evento (The event is postponed).

Prepositions with Time

Aplazar para + [Future Date].

Infinitive as Subject

Aplazar las cosas no es la solución.

Examples by Level

Tengo que aplazar la comida con mi madre.

I have to postpone the lunch with my mother.

Use 'tener que' + infinitive to express obligation.

Por favor, ¿podemos aplazar la clase?

Please, can we postpone the class?

Asking a question politely using 'poder'.

Ellos aplazan la fiesta para el sábado.

They postpone the party for Saturday.

Present tense of 'aplazar' for 'ellos'.

No quiero aplazar mi cita con el médico.

I don't want to postpone my doctor's appointment.

Negative sentence with 'querer' + infinitive.

El profesor aplaza el examen.

The teacher postpones the exam.

Simple subject-verb-object structure.

Vamos a aplazar el café hasta mañana.

We are going to postpone the coffee until tomorrow.

Using 'ir a' + infinitive for near future.

Ella aplaza el viaje porque está enferma.

She postpones the trip because she is sick.

Using 'porque' to give a reason.

¿Quieres aplazar nuestra reunión?

Do you want to postpone our meeting?

Direct question in the second person singular.

Aplacamos la cena porque llovía mucho.

We postponed the dinner because it was raining a lot.

Preterite tense of 'aplazar' for 'nosotros'.

Voy a aplazar la entrega de mi tarea.

I am going to postpone the submission of my homework.

Near future construction with a specific noun object.

El banco me dejó aplazar el pago de este mes.

The bank let me postpone this month's payment.

Using 'dejar' (to let/allow) + infinitive.

Si no terminas, tendrás que aplazar la presentación.

If you don't finish, you will have to postpone the presentation.

First conditional sentence (Si + present, future).

Se aplazó el partido de fútbol por el viento.

The soccer match was postponed because of the wind.

Passive 'se' construction in the preterite.

Aplacaste la cita dos veces ya.

You postponed the appointment twice already.

Preterite tense for 'tú'.

Tuvimos que aplazar la visita al museo.

We had to postpone the visit to the museum.

Preterite of 'tener que' + infinitive.

No es bueno aplazar siempre tus deberes.

It's not good to always postpone your duties.

Using 'es' + adjective + infinitive.

Aplacamos la decisión final hasta tener más datos.

We postponed the final decision until we have more data.

Using 'hasta' + infinitive to indicate a condition.

Espero que no aplace la reunión otra vez.

I hope he doesn't postpone the meeting again.

Present subjunctive after 'esperar que'.

Aplacó el viaje para poder ahorrar más dinero.

He postponed the trip to be able to save more money.

Preterite third person singular.

Si aplazamos el proyecto, perderemos la inversión.

If we postpone the project, we will lose the investment.

Conditional sentence with 'si'.

Me gustaría aplazar mi suscripción por un mes.

I would like to postpone my subscription for a month.

Conditional 'gustaría' to make a polite request.

Aplacaron la boda debido a problemas familiares.

They postponed the wedding due to family problems.

Preterite third person plural.

No podemos seguir aplazando lo inevitable.

We cannot keep postponing the inevitable.

Using 'seguir' + gerund for continuous action.

El juez decidió aplazar la vista oral.

The judge decided to postpone the oral hearing.

Infinitive after 'decidir'.

La directiva ha acordado aplazar el lanzamiento del producto.

The board has agreed to postpone the product launch.

Present perfect tense with 'acordar'.

Dudo que aplacen el examen a pesar de las quejas.

I doubt they will postpone the exam despite the complaints.

Subjunctive after 'dudar que'.

Si hubieras avisado antes, no habríamos tenido que aplazarlo.

If you had warned us earlier, we wouldn't have had to postpone it.

Third conditional (Si + pluperfect subjunctive, conditional perfect).

El gobierno aplazó la reforma fiscal por falta de apoyo.

The government postponed the tax reform due to lack of support.

Preterite tense in a formal/political context.

Aplazar las tareas solo genera más estrés a largo plazo.

Postponing tasks only generates more stress in the long run.

Infinitive used as a noun/subject.

Se vieron obligados a aplazar el evento por motivos de seguridad.

They were forced to postpone the event for security reasons.

Passive construction with 'verse obligado a'.

Aplacemos la discusión para cuando estemos más tranquilos.

Let's postpone the discussion for when we are calmer.

Imperative (let's) using the subjunctive form.

La empresa permite aplazar las cuotas sin intereses adicionales.

The company allows postponing installments without additional interest.

Using 'permitir' + infinitive.

La magistrada optó por aplazar la sentencia hasta analizar las nuevas pruebas.

The judge opted to postpone the sentence until analyzing the new evidence.

Using 'optar por' + infinitive.

No es prudente aplazar sine die una decisión de tal envergadura.

It is not prudent to postpone indefinitely a decision of such magnitude.

Using the Latin expression 'sine die'.

El aplazamiento de las elecciones ha generado una gran incertidumbre social.

The postponement of the elections has generated great social uncertainty.

Using the noun 'aplazamiento'.

Cualquier intento de aplazar el pago será visto como un incumplimiento de contrato.

Any attempt to postpone payment will be seen as a breach of contract.

Future passive construction 'será visto'.

Resulta imperativo no aplazar más las medidas contra el cambio climático.

It is imperative not to postpone any longer the measures against climate change.

Using 'resulta' + adjective + infinitive.

Aplacó su ambición personal en favor del bienestar colectivo.

He postponed his personal ambition in favor of the collective well-being.

Metaphorical use of 'aplazar'.

Aun cuando aplacen la reunión, el conflicto persistirá.

Even if they postpone the meeting, the conflict will persist.

Concessive clause with 'aun cuando' + subjunctive.

La compañía decidió aplazar la salida a bolsa por la volatilidad del mercado.

The company decided to postpone the IPO due to market volatility.

Business terminology: 'salida a bolsa'.

La sutil estrategia de aplazar la confrontación directa le otorgó una ventaja táctica innegable.

The subtle strategy of postponing direct confrontation gave him an undeniable tactical advantage.

Complex sentence structure with multiple modifiers.

Se cuestiona si aplazar la madurez es un rasgo generacional o una respuesta socioeconómica.

It is questioned whether postponing maturity is a generational trait or a socioeconomic response.

Impersonal 'se' with a complex philosophical subject.

El autor utiliza el recurso de aplazar el clímax para mantener la tensión narrativa.

The author uses the device of postponing the climax to maintain narrative tension.

Literary analysis terminology.

Resulta fútil aplazar el reconocimiento de una realidad que se impone por su propio peso.

It is futile to postpone the recognition of a reality that imposes itself by its own weight.

High-level vocabulary: 'fútil', 'se impone'.

La administración se reserva el derecho de aplazar cualquier trámite si se detectan irregularidades.

The administration reserves the right to postpone any procedure if irregularities are detected.

Formal administrative language.

Aplacó el deseo de responder airadamente, demostrando una templanza impropia de su edad.

He postponed the desire to respond angrily, demonstrating a temperance unusual for his age.

Using 'aplazar' with an abstract emotion.

La decisión de aplazar la intervención quirúrgica fue consensuada por el equipo médico.

The decision to postpone the surgical intervention was agreed upon by the medical team.

Passive voice with 'fue consensuada'.

No se puede aplazar indefinidamente la resolución de un dilema ético tan profundo.

The resolution of such a deep ethical dilemma cannot be postponed indefinitely.

Modal 'poder' in impersonal passive.

Common Collocations

aplazar una reunión

aplazar el pago

aplazar un examen

aplazar indefinidamente

aplazar la boda

aplazar el juicio

aplazar una decisión

aplazar para mañana

aplazar por motivos de

aplazar la salida

Common Phrases

No dejes para mañana lo que puedas hacer hoy.

— This is the classic proverb against procrastination. It advises not to postpone tasks.

Mi abuela siempre decía: no dejes para mañana lo que puedas hacer hoy.

Aplazar el momento.

— To delay a specific moment, often one that is difficult or emotional.

Intentaba aplazar el momento de decirle la verdad.

Aplazar las cuotas.

— Specifically used in banking to delay monthly payment installments.

Hablé con el banco para aplazar las cuotas de mi préstamo.

Aplazar la entrada en vigor.

— Used in law to delay when a new rule or law starts being active.

El gobierno decidió aplazar la entrada en vigor del nuevo decreto.

Aplazar una cita.

— To reschedule an appointment, very common in medical or professional contexts.

Llamé para aplazar una cita con el dentista.

Aplazar los planes.

— To put off general plans or intentions.

Tuvimos que aplazar los planes de vacaciones.

Aplazar la resolución.

— To delay the final answer or solution to a problem.

El comité decidió aplazar la resolución hasta la próxima semana.

Aplazar el lanzamiento.

— To delay the debut of a product, book, or movie.

La editorial va a aplazar el lanzamiento del libro.

Aplazar el encuentro.

— To postpone a meeting or a sports match.

Se vieron obligados a aplazar el encuentro deportivo.

Aplazar por fuerza mayor.

— To postpone due to unavoidable circumstances (legal/formal term).

El evento se aplazó por fuerza mayor.

Often Confused With

aplazar vs aplastar

Aplastar means to crush or flatten. Don't say 'aplasté la cita'!

aplazar vs alargar

Alargar means to lengthen or extend the duration, not to reschedule the start time.

aplazar vs retrasar

Retrasar is being late or behind schedule; aplazar is rescheduling to a new time.

Idioms & Expressions

"Echar balones fuera."

— While not using 'aplazar', it means to avoid a topic or postpone a decision by distracting.

Cuando le pregunté por el dinero, echó balones fuera.

informal

"Dar largas."

— To keep putting someone off or postponing a definitive answer.

Llevo días pidiéndole el informe, pero solo me da largas.

informal

"Dejar en el tintero."

— To leave something unsaid or postponed for later (often in writing).

Hay muchos temas que se quedaron en el tintero.

neutral

"Pasar la pelota."

— To pass the responsibility to someone else, often resulting in an 'aplazamiento'.

Nadie quiere decidir, se pasan la pelota unos a otros.

informal

"Andarse con rodeos."

— To beat around the bush, often to postpone a difficult conversation.

Dímelo ya y no te andes con rodeos.

informal

"A otra cosa, mariposa."

— Used when moving on from a topic, sometimes because it's being postponed.

Ya decidiremos eso luego, ¡a otra cosa, mariposa!

informal/child-friendly

"Hacer tiempo."

— To kill time or delay something intentionally.

Estamos haciendo tiempo hasta que empiece la película.

neutral

"Estar en veremos."

— To be undecided or postponed until further notice.

El proyecto todavía está en veremos.

informal

"Dejar para las calendas griegas."

— To postpone something indefinitely (since the Greeks didn't have 'calends').

Esa reforma la han dejado para las calendas griegas.

literary/formal

"Darle tiempo al tiempo."

— To wait and see, postponing a judgment or action.

No te preocupes ahora, hay que darle tiempo al tiempo.

neutral

Easily Confused

aplazar vs posponer

They mean almost the same thing.

Aplazar is slightly more common in Spain and formal contexts; posponer is very common in Latin America.

Ambas son correctas: 'Aplazar la cita' o 'Posponer la cita'.

aplazar vs prorrogar

Both involve time extensions.

Prorrogar is specifically for extending a deadline or contract's duration, not moving a point in time.

Prorrogamos el contrato (extended it), pero aplazamos la firma (moved the signing).

aplazar vs diferir

Both mean to delay.

Diferir is much more formal and often used in financial or academic writing.

Diferir el pago es una opción bancaria.

aplazar vs adelantar

It's the opposite, but often discussed in the same context.

Adelantar is moving something earlier; aplazar is moving it later.

En lugar de aplazarlo, vamos a adelantarlo.

aplazar vs cancelar

Both mean the event doesn't happen at the original time.

Cancelar means it won't happen at all; aplazar means it will happen later.

No lo canceles, solo aplázalo.

Sentence Patterns

Yo + aplazo + [objeto].

Yo aplazo la cita.

Vamos a + aplazar + [objeto] + para + [día].

Vamos a aplazar la cena para el martes.

Siento + aplazar + [objeto] + por + [motivo].

Siento aplazar la reunión por mi gripe.

Se ha decidido + aplazar + [objeto] + hasta nuevo aviso.

Se ha decidido aplazar el concierto hasta nuevo aviso.

Dada la situación, resulta necesario + aplazar + [objeto].

Dada la situación, resulta necesario aplazar la votación.

[Sustantivo] + aplazado + [adjetivo].

El partido aplazado fue muy aburrido.

No cabe sino + aplazar + [concepto abstracto].

No cabe sino aplazar el juicio final de esta obra.

El aplazamiento de + [objeto] + conlleva + [consecuencia].

El aplazamiento del pago conlleva intereses de demora.

Word Family

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

How to Use It

frequency

High, especially in professional, academic, and news contexts.

Common Mistakes

Using 'aplazé' instead of 'aplacé'. → Yo aplacé la cita.
In Spanish, 'z' changes to 'c' before 'e' and 'i'. This is a standard orthographic rule.
Saying 'El tren se aplazó' for a late train. → El tren se retrasó.
'Aplazar' means to reschedule to a future time/date. 'Retrasar' means to be late or delayed.
Confusing 'aplazar' with 'aplastar'. → Aplacemos la reunión.
'Aplastar' means to crush. 'Aplazamos la reunión' means we postponed the meeting.
Using 'aplazar por mañana'. → Aplazar para mañana.
Use 'para' for the new target date. 'Por' usually indicates the reason for the delay.
Using 'aplazar' reflexively: 'Me aplacé'. → Me retrasé (I was late).
'Aplazar' is transitive. You postpone an event, you don't 'postpone yourself' to mean being late.

Tips

Spelling Rule

Remember the 'Z to C' rule: 'aplazar' becomes 'aplacé' and 'aplace'. This happens whenever a 'z' would be followed by 'e' or 'i'.

Rescheduling

Use 'aplazar para' when you have a specific new date in mind. Use 'aplazar hasta' when you are waiting for a certain condition to be met.

Noun Form

Learn 'aplazamiento'. It makes you sound much more advanced in business settings. 'Solicito un aplazamiento' sounds better than 'Quiero aplazar'.

Stress the End

Always stress the final 'AR' in the infinitive. 'a-pla-ZAR'. If you stress the middle, it might sound like another word.

Politeness

In Spain, 'aplazar' is very direct and clear. In some Latin American countries, people might use 'posponer' more often to sound softer.

The Root 'Plazo'

If you remember 'plazo' means 'deadline', 'aplazar' (to move the deadline) is much easier to memorize.

Not for People

Never use 'aplazar' to say a person is late. It's for things and events only. For people, use 'retrasarse'.

Business Spanish

This is a key verb for professional emails. Master it to handle schedule changes smoothly with colleagues.

Procrastination

Use 'aplazar' when talking about putting off chores. It's more common than the technical word 'procrastinar'.

Credit Cards

Look for the word 'aplazar' on Spanish banking apps if you want to pay for a purchase over several months.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'A-PLAZA-R'. You are putting the event in a new 'plaza' (place) on the calendar. Or think: 'Add to the Plazo' (Add to the deadline).

Visual Association

Imagine a calendar where a hand is picking up a sticky note and moving it from Monday to Friday.

Word Web

plazo reunión calendario mañana tarde fecha retraso espera

Challenge

Try to use 'aplazar' and its preterite form 'aplacé' in two separate sentences today when talking about your schedule.

Word Origin

Derived from the Spanish noun 'plazo', which comes from the Latin 'placitum'.

Original meaning: 'Placitum' in Latin meant 'that which is pleasing' or 'an agreed-upon decision/term'.

Romance (Latin root).

Cultural Context

Be careful not to sound like you are making excuses. Use 'aplazar' with a clear reason (por motivos de...) to remain polite.

English speakers might say 'push back' or 'put off'. 'Aplazar' is more formal than 'put off' and equivalent to 'postpone'.

The common proverb: 'No dejes para mañana lo que puedas hacer hoy'. News headlines regarding the 'aplazamiento' of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in Spanish media. Legal dramas on Spanish TV where lawyers ask to 'aplazar la vista'.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At Work

Aplazar la reunión de equipo.
Aplazar la fecha de entrega del informe.
¿Podemos aplazar nuestra llamada?
Se ha decidido aplazar el lanzamiento.

At University

Aplazar un examen final.
Aplazar la matrícula del semestre.
Solicitar un aplazamiento de entrega.
El profesor aplazó la clase.

In Finance

Aplazar el pago de la hipoteca.
Aplazar las cuotas de la tarjeta.
Solicitar un aplazamiento de impuestos.
Intereses por aplazar el pago.

In Legal Settings

Aplazar la vista judicial.
Aplazar la ejecución de la sentencia.
El abogado pidió aplazar el juicio.
Aplazamiento por falta de pruebas.

Social Life

Aplazar la cena con amigos.
Aplazar el viaje de fin de semana.
¿Te importa si lo aplazamos?
Aplacamos la fiesta por el tiempo.

Conversation Starters

"¿Alguna vez has tenido que aplazar un evento muy importante por algo inesperado?"

"¿Crees que es mejor aplazar una decisión difícil o tomarla rápido?"

"En tu país, ¿es común aplazar las reuniones de trabajo a última hora?"

"¿Qué tareas sueles aplazar más a menudo en tu día a día?"

"Si pudieras aplazar el envejecimiento, ¿lo harías?"

Journal Prompts

Escribe sobre una vez que aplazaste algo y te arrepentiste de haberlo hecho.

Describe cómo te sientes cuando alguien aplaza una cita contigo en el último minuto.

¿Cuáles son las tres cosas que nunca deberías aplazar en la vida?

Imagina que tienes el poder de aplazar el tiempo por una hora. ¿Qué harías?

Reflexiona sobre el refrán 'No dejes para mañana lo que puedas hacer hoy'.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

En la práctica, son sinónimos. 'Aplazar' se usa más en contextos oficiales o administrativos, mientras que 'posponer' es muy común en el habla cotidiana, especialmente en América Latina. Por ejemplo, puedes decir 'aplacé mi examen' o 'pospuse mi examen' y ambos se entienden igual.

Es regular, excepto en la primera persona del singular (yo). Se escribe 'aplacé' con 'c'. El resto es regular: aplazaste, aplazó, aplazamos, aplazasteis, aplazaron. Esta regla de la 'z' a la 'c' es fundamental en español.

No, no se usa para decir que una persona llega tarde. Se usa para eventos o tareas. No digas 'yo me aplazo', di 'yo me retraso' o 'llego tarde'. 'Aplazar' siempre necesita un objeto, como una cita o una reunión.

Significa que un evento se ha pospuesto sin fijar una nueva fecha. Es común en proyectos que tienen problemas de dinero o política. Por ejemplo: 'El proyecto de construcción se aplazó indefinidamente'.

Es una palabra de registro medio-alto. Se usa tanto en la oficina como en casa, pero suena un poco más educada y precisa que decir simplemente 'hacerlo más tarde'. En documentos legales, es la palabra estándar.

El sustantivo es 'aplazamiento'. Por ejemplo: 'El aplazamiento del partido fue una sorpresa para todos'. También existe 'plazo', que es el término o periodo de tiempo.

Sí, es muy común. 'Aplazar el pago' significa pagar más tarde, a menudo en cuotas. Los bancos ofrecen 'pagos aplazados' a sus clientes.

La mejor traducción es 'aplazar' o 'posponer'. Si quieres sonar más informal, puedes decir 'dejar para más tarde'. Por ejemplo: 'No aplaces tus deberes' (Don't put off your homework).

El antónimo más directo es 'adelantar' (to move forward). Otros pueden ser 'cumplir' (to fulfill) o 'ejecutar' (to execute).

Sí, igual que en el pasado, la 'z' cambia a 'c'. Por ejemplo: 'Espero que él aplace la reunión' o 'Es necesario que nosotros aplacemos el viaje'.