Spanish word of the day: Cita previa

What does cita previa mean?

Cita previa (feminine noun phrase) – Literally “prior appointment,” this phrase is used throughout the Spanish-speaking world to mean that you need to book or schedule an appointment in advance before receiving a service or visiting an office. You’ll see it everywhere from doctor’s offices and government agencies to banks and even some shops.

Example sentences with cita previa

• Para renovar el pasaporte, necesitas pedir cita previa.
  📅 To renew your passport, you need to schedule an appointment in advance.

• No atienden sin cita previa en la consulta del médico.
  👩‍⚕️They don’t see patients without an appointment at the doctor’s office.

• Con la pandemia, casi todos los trámites requieren cita previa.
  😷 Since the pandemic, almost all procedures require a prior appointment.

Cita previa in context

You’ll come across cita previa constantly in daily life, especially when dealing with anything official or bureaucratic in Spanish-speaking countries. Whether you’re going to the dentist, the immigration office, or even getting a haircut in some places, you’ll often be told that solo con cita previa-only by prior appointment-will you be attended. This system helps manage queues and ensures you don’t waste time waiting, but it also means you need to plan ahead and sometimes deal with online booking systems or phone calls.

If you want to sound natural in Spanish, use cita previa when talking about any situation where you can’t just show up unannounced. It’s a phrase that’s become even more common since the pandemic, so knowing how to ask for or mention a cita previa will make everyday life much smoother.