How to say “Can you say it one more time?” in Spanish

Introduction

Asking someone to repeat themselves is a small but essential skill in any language. This article explains different ways to say Can you say it one more time? in Spanish, with polite and casual options, pronunciation tips, and real-life examples to help English-speaking learners feel confident in conversation.

Common Spanish phrases for asking someone to repeat

There are several natural ways to ask Can you say it one more time? in Spanish. Which phrase you use depends on formality, region, and tone. Below are the most common options ranked from most polite to most casual.

Polite and formal options

¿Puede repetirlo, por favor? is a straightforward and polite way to ask someone to repeat something. Use this with strangers, in stores, or with teachers and colleagues.
Example:
¿Puede repetirlo, por favor?
Estoy tomando apuntes y no lo entendí bien.

¿Podría repetirlo otra vez? is slightly more formal and uses the conditional podría which softens the request. Use this when you want to be especially courteous or when speaking with elders and professionals.
Example:
¿Podría repetirlo otra vez?
Perdón, mi conexión se cortó un momento.

Neutral everyday options

¿Puede decirlo otra vez? is a neutral phrase that works in most situations. It literally asks can you say it again and is polite without being overly formal.
Example:
¿Puede decirlo otra vez?
No escuché la última parte.

¿Puedes repetir eso? is the informal second-person singular form, appropriate with friends, classmates, or younger people. It is friendly and common in spoken Spanish. After the first appearance below, this phrase will appear in italics for later examples.

Very casual options

¿Cómo? is one-word and very colloquial. It functions like the English Huh or Excuse me when you didn’t catch something. Use this with close friends or in relaxed environments.
Example:
¿Cómo?
No te escuché bien con el ruido de la calle.

Dilo otra vez is direct and casual. It means say it again and can sound blunt if used with strangers, so reserve it for peers or informal contexts.
Example:
Dilo otra vez
Eso no me quedó claro.

Short variations and alternatives

Spanish has many small variations that work well in different contexts. These alternatives are useful when you want to be concise or adjust tone.

Repeating a specific word or phrase

When you want a particular word or piece of information repeated, specify what you need: ¿Puedes repetir la palabra? or ¿Puedes repetir la dirección? This helps the speaker know exactly what to repeat.
Example:
¿Puedes repetir la dirección?
No alcancé a copiarla en el papel.

Asking someone to speak more slowly

Often the issue is speed rather than volume. Use ¿Puede hablar más despacio, por favor? or the informal ¿Puedes hablar más despacio? This asks the speaker to slow down so you can understand and follow along.
Example:
¿Puede hablar más despacio, por favor?
Soy nuevo practicando español y sigo el ritmo más lento.

Asking for repetition because of background noise

If noise is the problem, say Perdón, no escuché eso followed by a request like ¿Puede repetirlo? This provides context about why you need repetition and makes the interaction smoother.
Example:
Perdón, no escuché eso.
¿Puede repetirlo?

Politeness and tone: formal vs. informal

Choosing between polite and casual forms is important. Spanish distinguishes formal and informal second person pronouns and verb forms. Use formal forms in professional settings and informal with friends or younger people.

When to use formal language

Use formal phrases like ¿Puede repetirlo, por favor? and ¿Podría repetirlo otra vez? with teachers, at work, in customer service settings, or with elders. Formal forms show respect and good manners.

When to use informal language

Use *¿Puedes repetir eso?* or *¿Cómo?* with friends, family, or peers. Informal speech is natural among people who know each other well and in casual social situations.

Pronunciation tips and stress patterns

Pronunciation matters for clarity when asking someone to repeat. Below are tips for common phrases so you sound natural and are easily understood.

  • ¿Puede repetirlo, por favor? — Pronounce puede as PWEH-deh, repetirlo as reh-peh-TEER-lo. Emphasize the second syllable of repetirlo.

  • ¿Podría repetirlo otra vez? — Podría sounds like poh-DREE-ah; make the stress on the DREE syllable. Otra vez is OH-trah BEZ.

  • ¿Puedes repetir eso? — Puedes is PWEH-dess; repetir is reh-peh-TEER; eso is EH-so. Use a rising intonation at the end to signal a question.

  • ¿Cómo? — Pronounce as KOH-moh with stress on the first syllable. Use a higher pitch at the end to show you did not understand.

Intonation and body language

Use a polite tone and open body language when asking for repetition. Slightly raise your eyebrows or lean in to show interest. In many Spanish-speaking cultures, expressive gestures accompany speech and are considered natural.

Sample dialogues for real-life situations

Practicing with short dialogues helps you choose the right phrase and tone. Below are examples for different settings: classroom, store, phone call, and casual conversation.

At a language class

Professor: La tarea para mañana es leer el capítulo tres y preparar un resumen.
Student: Perdón, no escuché la última parte.
Student: ¿Puede repetirlo, por favor?

In a store

Cashier: Son veinte veinticinco en total.
Customer: ¿Cómo?
Cashier: Veinte veinticinco.
Customer: ¿Puede decirlo otra vez?

On the phone

Caller: La cita es el jueves a las tres.
Receiver: Perdón, no escuché bien por el ruido. ¿Puede repetir la hora?
Caller: A las tres de la tarde.

With a friend

Friend: El concierto empieza a las ocho y media.
You: *¿Puedes repetir eso?*
Friend: Empieza a las ocho y media.

Usage notes: regional differences and nuances

Spanish varies across countries. While the phrases in this article are widely understood, small preferences and pronoun usage differ regionally.

  • In much of Latin America, both formal usted and informal tú are used. In Spain, vosotros is used for plural informal situations but does not affect the single-person phrases covered here.

  • Some regions favor shorter responses like ¿Cómo? or ¿Eh? while others prefer full polite forms. When in doubt, choose the polite option and adapt as you learn local habits.

  • Using por favor always helps soften a request and is appreciated in nearly any Spanish-speaking context.

Common mistakes to avoid

Beginners often make small errors when asking for repetition. Watch out for these common pitfalls and how to fix them.

  • Mixing formal and informal pronouns. Do not pair usted with a tú verb form. Use ¿Puede repetir? with usted and *¿Puedes repetir?* with tú.

  • Omitting context. If background noise is the issue, say Perdón, no escuché first to explain why you need repetition.

  • Using overly literal translations from English like Can you say it one more time? word for word may sound unnatural. Prefer natural Spanish constructions listed earlier.

Practice tips to build confidence

Improve your ability to ask for repetition by practicing aloud and recording yourself. Try forming short dialogues and role-playing with a language partner. Focus on intonation and politeness markers like por favor and perdón.

Listening practice also helps. When you listen to podcasts or videos, pause and repeat phrases aloud. This trains your ear to recognize common words and reduces the need to ask for repetition over time.

Conclusion

Knowing several ways to ask Can you say it one more time? in Spanish makes conversations smoother and more polite. Use formal forms like ¿Puede repetirlo, por favor? in professional settings, *¿Puedes repetir eso?* with friends, and casual cues like ¿Cómo? when appropriate. Practice pronunciation and context to gain confidence and sound natural.