Introduction
Learning how to ask someone to repeat something is one of the first and most useful skills for Spanish beginners. This article explains how to use the verb repetir in simple first-step questions, with practical examples, common phrases, pronunciation tips, and typical mistakes to avoid. You will learn ready-to-use sentences for real-life situations like classrooms, stores, and conversations.
- What does repetir mean?
- Simple, polite ways to ask someone to repeat
- Using repetir in classroom or study settings
- Politeness: when to use formal vs informal
- Short, natural phrases for everyday situations
- Using pedir + repetir politely
- Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them
- Quick pronunciation and rhythm tips
- Useful vocabulary related to repetir
- Short exercises for beginners
- When repetir is not the best choice
- Practice conversation for beginners
- Resources and next steps
- Conclusion
What does repetir mean?
repetir means to repeat, say again, or do again. It is a common verb used when you did not hear or understand what someone said. For beginners, the most useful forms are the imperative and present tense question forms, plus polite requests using conditional or subjunctive constructions.
Basic verb forms to know
repetir – infinitive form, to repeat
repite – informal imperative (tú), repeat
repita – formal imperative (usted), repeat
repite / repite – present indicative (tú/él), he repeats; note for beginners focus on commands and simple requests
puedes repetir – present question with puedes, can you repeat
puede repetir – formal can you repeat
Simple, polite ways to ask someone to repeat
Start with short, polite phrases you can use immediately. These are perfect for shops, restaurants, and classrooms.
¿Puedes repetir? – Informal, means can you repeat? Use with friends or people your age.
¿Puedes repetir eso? – Can you repeat that?
¿Puede repetir? – Formal, use with strangers, staff, or older adults.
¿Puede repetir, por favor? – Can you repeat, please?
¿Puedes decirlo otra vez? – Literally can you say it again; common and friendly.
¿Lo puedes decir otra vez?
¿Puede decirlo otra vez? – Formal version.
Using repetir in classroom or study settings
In classrooms students often need the teacher to repeat a word, pronunciation, or instruction. These phrases are natural and useful for beginners.
Profesor, ¿puede repetir la palabra? – Teacher, can you repeat the word?
Perdón, ¿puede repetir la frase? – Excuse me, can you repeat the sentence?
¿Puedes repetir más despacio? – Can you repeat more slowly? Use when someone speaks too fast.
¿Puede repetir más despacio, por favor?
¿Puedes repetir la pronunciación? – Can you repeat the pronunciation? Useful for practicing sounds.
Repita la pronunciación, por favor.
Politeness: when to use formal vs informal
Choose between puedes (informal) and puede (formal) depending on the person you talk to. For shop staff, service workers, or people you do not know well, use the formal puede. With classmates, friends, or family, use puedes.
Examples:
¿Puedes repetir? – Use with friends.
¿Puede repetir? – Use with a cashier or hotel receptionist.
Short, natural phrases for everyday situations
Here are compact expressions you will use often. Memorize a few so you can respond quickly.
¿Qué? – What? (Very informal; can sound abrupt.)
¿Cómo? – How? or What did you say? (Also informal but common.)
¿Perdón? – Excuse me? or Pardon? Good neutral option.
¿Otra vez? – Again? Short and clear.
¿Puedes repetir eso, por favor? – Can you repeat that, please? A polite, complete sentence.
Examples in real contexts
Use these realistic dialogues to see how native speakers use repetir in beginner-friendly conversations.
Store situation:
Cliente: Disculpe, ¿puede repetir el precio?
Cajero: Son veinte pesos.
Classroom:
Estudiante: Profesora, ¿puede repetir la frase?
Profesora: Claro, repito: Yo vivo en la ciudad.
Phone call:
Persona A: No escuché, ¿puedes repetir?
Persona B: Sí, dije: Llego a las cinco.
Using pedir + repetir politely
Beginners can also use the verb pedir (to ask) to make a polite request. This is helpful when you want to sound formal or very courteous.
¿Me puede repetir eso? – Can you repeat that for me? Very polite.
Le pido que repita, por favor. – I ask you to repeat, please. More formal, less common in casual talk but useful in formal settings.
Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them
Be aware of these typical errors so you can communicate clearly from the start.
Mistake: Using English word order or direct translations. Instead of literal translations like can you repeat me, use ¿Me puede repetir?
Mistake: Overusing ¿Qué? which can sound rude. Prefer Perdón or full phrases like ¿Puede repetir, por favor?
Mistake: Forgetting to add por favor when speaking to strangers. Small politeness markers make a big difference.
Mistake: Using the wrong form of the verb for address. If in doubt, use puede for safety with strangers.
Quick pronunciation and rhythm tips
Beginners should focus on clarity rather than accent. Practice these short tips.
Repeat the stress on the second syllable in repetir: re-pe-TIR. The final syllable carries the stress.
Say ¿Puedes repetir? slowly at first: PU-e-des re-pe-TIR. Then speed up to natural pace.
Use rising intonation for questions. Even if your grammar is imperfect, a rising tone makes the sentence sound like a question.
Mini drill: practice sentences
Say each phrase aloud, then use it in a short role-play with a friend or teacher.
¿Puedes repetir eso?
¿Puede repetir más despacio?
Perdón, ¿puede decirlo otra vez?
¿Qué dijo?
Useful vocabulary related to repetir
otra vez – again
más despacio – more slowly
por favor – please
disculpe – excuse me (formal)
perdón – pardon, excuse me
dónde – where (useful when you did not catch location)
cuándo – when
cómo – how or what did you say
Short exercises for beginners
Try these quick tasks to build confidence. Keep answers short and practical.
Exercise 1: Imagine you are at a café and did not hear the barista. Practice saying Perdón, ¿puede repetir el pedido?
Exercise 2: In a classroom, ask your partner to repeat a new vocabulary word using ¿Puedes repetir la palabra?
Exercise 3: On the phone, you missed the time of an appointment. Ask Disculpe, ¿puede repetir la hora?
When repetir is not the best choice
Sometimes other verbs sound more natural depending on context. For clarification or rephrasing, use these alternatives.
aclarar – to clarify. Use when you need more information, not just a repeat.
¿Puede aclararlo? – Can you clarify it?
decir – to say. Often combines with otra vez.
¿Puede decirlo otra vez?
Practice conversation for beginners
Role-play this simple exchange to practice asking for repetitions politely.
Tourist: Disculpe, ¿puede repetir el nombre de la calle?
Local: Claro, es Calle Principal.
Tourist: ¿Puede repetir más despacio?
Local: Calle… Pri-nci-pal.
Resources and next steps
After mastering these phrases, practice listening to short audio clips and pause to repeat what you hear. Listening comprehension paired with asking for repetition will accelerate progress. Use language apps or class recordings that let you replay phrases slowly.
Conclusion
Knowing how to use repetir in first-step questions gives beginners practical tools for real conversations. With a few polite phrases like ¿Puede repetir? and ¿Puedes repetir más despacio?, you can handle shops, classrooms, and phone calls confidently. Practice the short dialogs, watch your polite forms, and use the vocabulary lists to build a reliable repertoire for everyday Spanish communication.
