Asking “Can You Repeat That?” in Spanish

Introduction

Learning how to politely ask someone to repeat themselves is one of the most essential skills for any Spanish learner. Whether you’re traveling through Spain, conversing with native speakers in Latin America, or simply practicing your language skills, there will be countless moments when you need clarification. Mastering these phrases will boost your confidence and help you navigate real conversations with ease.

Why Asking for Repetition Matters in Spanish Conversation

As a beginner or intermediate Spanish learner, you’ll frequently encounter situations where native speakers talk too quickly, use unfamiliar vocabulary, or speak in noisy environments. Rather than nodding along in confusion, knowing how to request repetition demonstrates your genuine interest in understanding and communicating effectively. Native speakers appreciate learners who actively engage in conversation, and these phrases show respect for both the language and the speaker.

The ability to ask for clarification also prevents misunderstandings that could lead to embarrassing situations or miscommunication. In professional settings, social gatherings, or everyday interactions, these phrases become your safety net, allowing you to participate fully in Spanish conversations without fear of missing important information.

The Most Common Way to Say Can You Repeat That

The most widely used phrase across all Spanish-speaking countries is ¿Puede repetir, por favor? This formal expression translates literally to Can you repeat, please? and works in virtually any situation where politeness is required. The word puede comes from the verb poder, meaning to be able to or can, conjugated in the formal usted form.

When using ¿Puede repetir, por favor?, you’re showing respect to the person you’re speaking with, making it appropriate for conversations with strangers, elders, professionals, or anyone you’d address formally. The phrase flows naturally in Spanish and is universally understood, regardless of regional variations.

For informal situations with friends, family, or people your age, you can use ¿Puedes repetir, por favor? The only difference is the conjugation of poder – puedes corresponds to the informal tú form. This slight change signals familiarity and casual rapport while still maintaining politeness through the addition of por favor.

Alternative Phrases for Asking Someone to Repeat

Spanish offers numerous ways to request repetition, each with its own nuance and level of formality. Understanding these variations will help you sound more natural and adapt to different social contexts.

Using Cómo for Clarification

One of the simplest ways to ask for repetition is the single word ¿Cómo? which means What? or How? in this context. While incredibly common in everyday Spanish, ¿Cómo? should be used carefully as it can sound abrupt if your tone isn’t right. When said with a genuinely curious and polite intonation, it’s perfectly acceptable among friends and family.

In more formal situations, you might want to expand this to ¿Cómo dice? meaning What do you say? or What are you saying? This phrase adds a layer of politeness and is more appropriate when speaking with people you don’t know well. For informal contexts, ¿Cómo dice? becomes ¿Cómo dices? using the tú form of the verb decir.

Expressing That You Didn’t Understand

Sometimes it’s more appropriate to admit that you didn’t catch what was said rather than simply asking for repetition. The phrase No entendí means I didn’t understand and opens the door for the speaker to rephrase or slow down. This straightforward admission often prompts native speakers to adjust their speech automatically.

You can make this more complete by saying Disculpe, no entendí in formal situations or Disculpa, no entendí informally. The word disculpe or disculpa means excuse me or sorry, softening your request and showing consideration for any inconvenience.

Another useful variation is No le/te entendí, which specifically means I didn’t understand you. The pronoun le is used for formal speech, while te is used informally. This phrase makes it clear that the issue is with comprehension rather than hearing, which might encourage the speaker to use different words or explain in another way.

Asking Someone to Speak More Slowly

Native Spanish speakers often talk rapidly, especially in casual conversation. When speed is the issue, ¿Puede hablar más despacio, por favor? is your best friend. This phrase means Can you speak more slowly, please? and directly addresses the problem without sounding demanding.

The informal version is ¿Puedes hablar más despacio, por favor? In both cases, the word despacio means slowly, and más means more. Some speakers use más lento instead of más despacio, as lento also means slow, though despacio is more commonly used for speech.

Regional Variations Across Spanish-Speaking Countries

While the phrases mentioned above work throughout the Spanish-speaking world, certain expressions are more common in specific regions. Understanding these variations will help you sound more natural and understand local speakers better.

Latin American Preferences

In Mexico and much of Central America, you’ll frequently hear ¿Mande? as a way of asking someone to repeat themselves. This word, derived from the verb mandar meaning to command or to order, has evolved into a polite way of saying What did you say? or Pardon me? While ¿Mande? might sound odd to learners at first, it’s deeply ingrained in Mexican culture and shows respect.

In Argentina and Uruguay, speakers often use ¿Qué decís? or ¿Cómo? with a distinctive rising intonation. The verb form decís corresponds to the vos conjugation, which is unique to this region and replaces the tú form in informal speech. This same pattern applies to other phrases, such as ¿Podés repetir? instead of ¿Puedes repetir?

In Caribbean Spanish, particularly in Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic, speakers might say ¿Qué tú dices? or simply ¿Ah? in very informal settings. The construction ¿Qué tú dices? differs from standard Spanish grammar, which would typically use ¿Qué dices tú?, but it’s completely natural in Caribbean dialects.

European Spanish Expressions

In Spain, you’ll hear the formal ¿Perdón? or ¿Perdone? used frequently to ask for repetition. These words mean Pardon? or I’m sorry? and function similarly to English. The informal version is ¿Perdona?, which you’d use with friends or people you address informally.

Another Spanish expression is ¿Cómo has dicho? meaning What did you say? This phrase uses the present perfect tense, which is more common in Spain than in Latin America. The informal version would be ¿Cómo has dicho? while in Latin America, you’re more likely to hear ¿Cómo dijiste? using the preterite tense instead.

Phrases for Specific Situations

Beyond basic repetition requests, there are specialized phrases for different circumstances that will make your Spanish sound more sophisticated and contextually appropriate.

When You Need Something Spelled Out

If you’re trying to write down a name, address, or email, asking for spelling is essential. The phrase ¿Puede deletrear eso, por favor? means Can you spell that, please? The verb deletrear specifically means to spell out letter by letter.

Alternatively, you can ask ¿Cómo se escribe? which translates to How is it written? or How do you spell it? This phrase works well when you need clarification on spelling but sounds less formal than using deletrear.

When You Missed a Specific Word

Sometimes you understand most of what was said but missed one crucial word. Instead of asking for the entire sentence again, you can say ¿Qué significa [word]? meaning What does [word] mean? This shows you were paying attention but need help with specific vocabulary.

You can also ask ¿Puede explicar esa palabra? which means Can you explain that word? Native speakers will appreciate your effort to understand rather than letting unfamiliar terms slide by.

In Noisy Environments

When background noise is interfering with communication, you might say No le/te escuché bien meaning I didn’t hear you well. This phrase makes it clear that the problem is auditory rather than comprehension-related. You can add Hay mucho ruido meaning There’s a lot of noise to explain the situation further.

Another useful phrase is ¿Puede hablar más alto, por favor? which means Can you speak louder, please? The word alto means loud or high, and this request is perfectly polite when environmental factors are making it difficult to hear.

Cultural Context and Politeness Considerations

Understanding the cultural aspects of asking for repetition will help you navigate Spanish conversations more smoothly and avoid unintentional rudeness.

The Importance of Por Favor

In Spanish-speaking cultures, politeness markers are crucial. While you might occasionally hear native speakers drop por favor in very casual settings, as a learner, you should almost always include it. This small addition demonstrates respect and good manners, which are highly valued throughout the Spanish-speaking world.

The phrase por favor can be placed at the end of your request, as in ¿Puede repetir, por favor?, or at the beginning for extra emphasis: Por favor, ¿puede repetir? Both positions are correct, though ending with por favor is slightly more common.

Tone and Body Language

Your tone of voice and facial expression matter tremendously when asking someone to repeat themselves. A friendly smile and genuinely curious tone will make any of these phrases sound polite, while a frustrated or impatient tone can come across as rude, regardless of which phrase you use.

Leaning slightly forward, maintaining appropriate eye contact, and appearing engaged in the conversation all signal that you’re interested in understanding, not annoyed at having to ask for clarification. These non-verbal cues work universally but are particularly important in Spanish-speaking cultures that value interpersonal warmth.

Knowing When to Move On

If you’ve asked someone to repeat themselves two or three times and still don’t understand, it’s sometimes better to acknowledge the situation gracefully rather than continuing to struggle. You might say Lo siento, voy a practicar más meaning I’m sorry, I’m going to practice more or Entiendo un poco, gracias por su paciencia meaning I understand a little, thank you for your patience.

This approach shows humility and appreciation for the other person’s efforts, and most native speakers will respect your honesty while appreciating your continued interest in learning their language.

Practice Scenarios and Real-Life Examples

To help you internalize these phrases, consider these realistic situations where you might need to ask for repetition.

At a Restaurant

Imagine a waiter quickly lists the daily specials. You might respond: Disculpe, ¿puede repetir los especiales más despacio, por favor? This combines multiple elements: apologizing for the interruption, asking for repetition, and requesting slower speech.

Getting Directions

When someone gives you street directions in rapid Spanish, you could say: Perdón, no entendí bien. ¿Puede explicar de nuevo? This admits you didn’t catch everything and asks them to explain again. The phrase de nuevo means again and is commonly used alongside repetition requests.

In a Language Exchange

During a conversation practice session, you might use: ¿Puedes repetir esa última parte? No conozco esa palabra. This asks your partner to repeat the last part and explains that you don’t know a specific word, giving them context to help you better.

On the Phone

Phone conversations are particularly challenging for language learners. You might say: Lo siento, la conexión no está muy buena. ¿Puede repetir su nombre? This blames the connection quality rather than your comprehension and specifically asks for the person’s name to be repeated.

Building Confidence Through Practice

The key to using these phrases naturally is regular practice. Don’t wait for perfect fluency before engaging in conversations. Native speakers understand that language learning is a process, and most are happy to repeat or slow down when asked politely.

Start by practicing these phrases aloud at home, paying attention to pronunciation and intonation. Record yourself and compare with native speaker examples online. As you gain confidence, use these phrases with language exchange partners, tutors, or in any Spanish conversation opportunities that arise.

Remember that asking for clarification is not a sign of failure but rather a demonstration of active learning and communication skills. Every time you use one of these phrases, you’re practicing Spanish and showing respect for accurate communication.

Conclusion

Mastering how to ask someone to repeat themselves in Spanish is an invaluable skill that will serve you throughout your language learning journey. From the universally understood ¿Puede repetir, por favor? to regional expressions like ¿Mande? in Mexico, these phrases empower you to participate fully in conversations. Remember that politeness, appropriate tone, and cultural awareness are just as important as knowing the correct words. With practice and confidence, asking for repetition becomes second nature, opening doors to richer and more meaningful interactions in Spanish.