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"Cancelar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to cancel", and "anular" is a transitive verb which is also often translated as "to cancel". Learn more about the difference between "cancelar" and "anular" below.
cancelar(
kahn
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seh
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lahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to annul)
a. to cancel
Quiero cancelar mi suscripción a la revista.I want to cancel my subscription to the magazine.
b. to close (an account)
Para cancelar la cuenta, tendrá que pasarse por nuestras oficinas.In order to close your account, you'll have to come to our offices.
2. (to suspend)
a. to cancel
El director ha cancelado la reunión de mañana.The director has canceled tomorrow's meeting.
b. to call off
La policía canceló la búsqueda de los sospechosos.The police called off the search for the suspects.
3. (computing)
a. to cancel
¿Estás seguro de que quieres cancelar la instalación?Are you sure you want to cancel the installation?
4. (to pay)
a. to pay off
El banco me exige cancelar la deuda antes de fin de mes.The bank demands that I pay off my debt before the end of the month.
b. to settle
No tengo los recursos necesarios para cancelar la hipoteca en un futuro inmediato.I don't have the resources to settle the mortgage in the immediate future.
5. (to forget)
a. to erase
Quisiera cancelar de mi mente la terrible imagen de ella cayendo al vacío.I wish I could erase from my mind the terrible image of her falling into the void.
6. (to terminate) (Dominican Republic) (Ecuador)
Regionalism used in the Dominican Republic
Regionalism used in Ecuador
a. to fire
El director de Recursos Humanos ha cancelado a tres empleados en un mes.The Human Resources director has fired three employees in a month.
anular, el anular(
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noo
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lahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to cancel
Tuve que anular el viaje por motivos personales.I had to cancel the trip due to personal circumstances.
2. (legal)
a. to annul
El juez anuló el matrimonio porque una de las partes seguía legalmente casada con otra persona.The judge annulled the marriage because one of the parties was still legally married to another person.
b. to repeal
El proyecto de ley busca anular la ley que restringe el acceso completo a Internet.The bill aims to repeal the legislation that restricts full access to the internet.
c. to rescind
Ambas partes acordaron anular el contrato.Both parties agreed to rescind the contract.
d. to declare null and void
El tribunal anuló el testamento.The court declared the will null and void.
e. to cancel
El juez anuló el contrato debido al incumplimiento de una de las partes.The judge canceled the contract as a result of a breach by one of the parties.
3. (sports)
a. to disallow
Ronaldo estaba en posición adelantada. El árbitro anuló el gol.Ronaldo was offside. The referee disallowed the goal.
4. (to exceed)
a. to destroy
Nos anularon porque sus jugadores eran más altos y más rápidos.They destroyed us because all their players were taller and faster.
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
6. (anatomy)
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
7. (circular)
a. ring-shaped
Levanté la copa de vino y vi una mancha anular en el mantel.I picked up my wine glass and saw there was a ring-shaped stain on the tablecloth.
anularse
A reciprocal verb is a verb that indicates that two or more subjects perform an action on each other (e.g., Ellos se abrazan.).
a. to cancel each other out
Estas dos fuerzas se anulan porque son iguales y van en direcciones opuestas.These two forces cancel each other out because they are equal and acting in opposite directions.
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
No te anules ni dejes que tu jefe te humille por un aumento.Don't keep quiet or let your boss humiliate you just so you can get a raise.
Mike se anuló cuando su ex entró a la oficina.When his ex walked into the office, Mike faded into the background.
