Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| cita | /ˈθita/ /ˈsita/ |
feminine |
| apoinmen | /apoimmen/ (from spelling rules) | US, masculine |
| apuntamento | /apuntamento/ (from spelling rules) | US, masculine |
| appointment (apointment) | US, masculine |
Cita refers to an arrangement for a meeting or a scheduled engagement. For a medical appointment specifically, you can use the phrase cita médica. In formal medical settings, the term consulta is also used to refer to an appointment with a doctor or a specialist.
Which one should you use?
While cita is the standard feminine form, the forms apoinmen, apuntamento and appointment (apointment) are masculine forms used in the US.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, the word turno is often used instead of cita to mean appointment. In Spain, the phrase cita previa is commonly used to refer to an appointment that must be scheduled in advance.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of cita is citas.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈθita/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers sometimes mistakenly use encuentro when they mean a scheduled appointment. However, cita is the correct standard term for a set time.
Did you know?
- The term cita can also be used to refer to a romantic date, making the context of the conversation essential to avoid ambiguity.
- In Spanish, cita also means a 'quote' or 'citation' from a book or a person. It refers to the act of quoting a specific passage of text.
- The word cita is closely related to the English verb 'cite', as both share roots involving calling upon or summoning someone.
Examples in context
- Tom olvidó su cita.Tom forgot his appointment.This sentence shows how to use cita to indicate a forgotten appointment.Tatoeba #1287972 by marcelostockle, translation #1094070 by CK
- Haz una cita con él.Make an appointment with him.This sentence demonstrates how to use cita when instructing someone to make an appointment.Tatoeba #1207862 by marcelostockle, translation #284505 by CK
- ¿Tienes cita con él?Do you have an appointment with him?This sentence illustrates a question about whether someone has a cita.Tatoeba #2170133 by Shishir, translation #63888 by CK
- Tengo una cita con el médico esta tarde.I have an appointment with the doctor this afternoon.
- Debo ir a la consulta del dentista mañana.I have to go to the dentist's appointment tomorrow.
- Tengo un turno para ver al abogado el miércoles.I have an appointment to see the lawyer on Wednesday.
- Necesito pedir una cita previa en el consulado.I need to schedule an appointment at the consulate.
- 56 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and María are discussing their busy afternoon schedules.
- Daniel¿Tienes una cita hoy, María?Do you have an appointment today, María?
- MaríaSí, tengo una cita con el dentista.Yes, I have an appointment with the dentist.
- DanielYo también tengo una cita importante.I also have an important appointment.
- MaríaEspero que llegues a tiempo, Daniel.I hope you arrive on time, Daniel.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “appointment” translations and entries cita, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cita, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
