Introduction
Learning to ask someone to repeat themselves is one of the most practical skills for a beginner in Spanish. This guide teaches polite, everyday phrases and simple strategies to handle misunderstandings in conversations, at stores, in transit, and during classes. Focus on short phrases, pronunciation tips, and realistic examples you can use right away.
Why knowing how to ask for repetition matters
When you start speaking Spanish, native speakers often speak quickly or use unfamiliar words. Being able to ask someone to repeat what they said keeps conversations flowing and shows respect. Simple phrases let you confirm key information like times, prices, or directions without disrupting the interaction.
Core Spanish phrases to ask for repetition
Start with a few reliable phrases that learners use most often. These are polite and suitable in formal and informal situations.
¿Puede repetir, por favor? — Use this in stores, offices, or when you want to be polite. It literally asks Can you repeat, please?
¿Puede repetir, por favor?
¿Puedes repetir? — Slightly more informal. Use with friends, classmates, or people your age after a brief introduction.
¿Puedes repetir?
¿Cómo? — Very short and common. It literally means How? but is used like Excuse me? or Pardon?
¿Cómo?
¿Perdón? — A polite way to say Sorry? or Pardon? Works in most contexts to ask for repetition.
¿Perdón?
¿Qué dijo? — Directly asks What did you say? Useful when you missed a specific word or sentence.
¿Qué dijo?
Polite variations and emphasis
Adding small words makes your request friendlier or more precise.
Disculpe, ¿puede repetir más despacio? — Excuse me, can you repeat more slowly? Use when speech speed is the problem.
Disculpe, ¿puede repetir más despacio?
¿Puede decirlo otra vez, por favor? — Can you say that again, please? Slightly different wording but equally polite.
¿Puede decirlo otra vez, por favor?
¿Puede hablar más fuerte? — Can you speak louder? Use when volume is the problem, for example in a noisy bus or restaurant.
¿Puede hablar más fuerte?
¿Puede escribirlo, por favor? — Can you write it down, please? Very helpful for unfamiliar words like addresses or names.
¿Puede escribirlo, por favor?
Vocabulary you should know
Understanding a few keywords helps you build variations and understand answers.
repetir — to repeat. Verb root appears in many phrases.
repetir
despacio — slowly. Useful when the speaker is fast.
despacio
más — more. Combine with despacio or fuerte (louder).
más
fuerte — loud or stronger volume.
fuerte
escribir — to write. Useful when you want something written down.
escribir
otra vez — again. A simple repeat indicator.
otra vez
Short role-play examples for daily situations
Practice these realistic mini-dialogues. Read them out loud and memorize the short requests.
At a café:
Barista: Buenas tardes, ¿qué desea?
You: Perdón, ¿puede repetir el nombre del café?
Barista: Café colombiano.
On a bus:
Driver: Siguiente parada, Centro.
You: Disculpe, ¿puede repetir más despacio?
Driver: Centro, la próxima parada.
In class:
Teacher: La tarea está en la página veinte.
You: ¿Cómo?
Teacher: Página veinte.
At a store:
Clerk: Son cincuenta y cinco dólares.
You: Perdón, ¿puede escribir el precio?
Clerk writes the number.
How to respond when someone asks you to repeat
If a learner asks you to repeat, practice these clear responses so they understand you better.
Speak slower: Claro, lo digo más despacio.
Claro, lo digo más despacio.
Repeat exactly: Lo siento, dije que son cincuenta y cinco dólares.
Lo siento, dije que son cincuenta y cinco dólares.
Write it down: Lo escribo aquí.
Lo escribo aquí.
Pronunciation and listening tips for beginners
Pronunciation and listening work together. Focus on these beginner-friendly habits:
Listen for key words: If you miss a sentence, catch nouns like horario, precio, calle, nombre, teléfono instead of every word.
Ask for gestures: ¿Puede mostrarlo en el mapa? helps when directions are unclear.
¿Puede mostrarlo en el mapa?
Repeat what you heard: After someone repeats, paraphrase to confirm: ¿Quiere decir que la tienda cierra a las ocho?
¿Quiere decir que la tienda cierra a las ocho?
Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them
Knowing typical errors prevents embarrassment and speeds progress.
Overusing ¿Cómo? in formal situations can sound abrupt. Use Disculpe or Perdón before the question in service contexts.
Disculpe
Relying only on English: Instead of always switching, try one short Spanish phrase first, then English if needed. For example, use ¿Puede repetir, por favor? before asking in English.
¿Puede repetir, por favor?
Ignoring nonverbal cues: If someone points to a sign or pulls out a phone, ask for them to show it or write it down with ¿Puede escribirlo?
¿Puede escribirlo?
Quick practice exercises
Use these micro-tasks to build confidence in everyday contexts.
Exercise 1: Watch a short Spanish video and pause when you miss a phrase. Say ¿Puede repetir, por favor? out loud, then rewind and listen.
¿Puede repetir, por favor?
Exercise 2: In a bilingual chat, type Perdón, ¿puedes repetir? when you do not understand a message.
Perdón, ¿puedes repetir?
Exercise 3: Role-play with a partner: one person reads a list of numbers or addresses quickly; the other practices requesting repetition and having the speaker write it down: ¿Puede escribirlo, por favor?
¿Puede escribirlo, por favor?
When to use formal versus informal forms
Spanish distinguishes polite/formal and casual/informal speech. Use formal forms with strangers, service workers, older people, or in professional settings. Use informal phrases with friends, classmates, and family.
Formal: ¿Puede repetir, por favor?
¿Puede repetir, por favor?
Informal: ¿Puedes repetir?
¿Puedes repetir?
If unsure, default to the formal option; being polite is always safe and appreciated.
Real-world signs and short texts you might encounter
Recognize common written cues that show you should ask for clarification.
On a schedule: Llegadas y salidas — if you do not understand a time, ask ¿Puede repetir la hora?
¿Puede repetir la hora?
On a menu: Plato del día — ask ¿Qué contiene el plato del día? if ingredients are unclear.
¿Qué contiene el plato del día?
On a receipt: Total a pagar — if numbers are unclear, say Perdón, ¿puede mostrarme el total?
Perdón, ¿puede mostrarme el total?
Tips for building confidence
Small, consistent actions make asking for repetition feel natural.
Memorize three phrases: a formal repeat request, an informal one, and a short quick question like ¿Cómo?
¿Cómo?
Practice with audio resources and mimic speed variations you hear in real speech. The more you hear, the less often you need to ask.
Keep a small notebook for words you ask people to write down. Reviewing those items helps you understand similar words faster next time.
Conclusion
Mastering a handful of polite, practical Spanish phrases to ask someone to repeat will significantly improve your daily interactions as a beginner. Use formal phrases in public and informal ones with friends, combine short requests with gestures or writing, and practice role-play exercises to build confidence. These small tools help you understand conversations, get accurate information, and appear polite in real-life situations.
