Can you repeat that?
in Spanish¿Puedes repetir eso, por favor?
/PWEH-dehs rreh-peh-TEER EH-soh, por fah-VOR/
This is the most direct and universally understood way to ask someone to repeat something. It's polite, clear, and suitable for most everyday situations.
Didn't catch that? Knowing how to politely ask someone to repeat themselves is a crucial skill for any Spanish learner.
💬Other Ways to Say It
¿Puede repetir eso, por favor?
/PWEH-deh rreh-peh-TEER EH-soh, por fah-VOR/
This is the formal version, using 'puede' for 'usted'. It's the go-to choice when speaking with elders, authority figures, or anyone you've just met in a formal context.
¿Cómo?
/KOH-moh/
Literally 'How?', this is the most common, quick, and polite way to signal you didn't hear or understand. It's the equivalent of a polite 'Pardon?' or 'Sorry?' in English.
¿Perdón?
/pehr-DOHN/
Meaning 'Pardon?' or 'Excuse me?', this is another extremely common and polite way to ask for repetition. It's interchangeable with '¿Cómo?'.
¿Podría repetirlo, por favor?
/poh-DREE-ah rreh-peh-TEER-loh, por fah-VOR/
This is an extra-polite version, translating to 'Could you repeat it, please?'. Using 'podría' (the conditional form) softens the request, making it sound more humble and respectful.
¿Lo puedes repetir?
/loh PWEH-dehs rreh-peh-TEER/
A slight reordering of the primary phrase, attaching 'it' ('lo') before the verb. It's very common in natural, flowing conversation.
¿Puedes decirlo otra vez?
/PWEH-dehs deh-SEER-loh OH-trah vehs/
This means 'Can you say it another time?' or 'Can you say it again?'. It's a great alternative that sounds very natural.
¿Mande?
/MAHN-deh/
A very common interjection in Mexico, derived from 'mandar' (to command). While it's used as a polite 'What?' or 'Pardon?', its submissive origin makes it less common or even disliked in other regions like Spain or Argentina.
¿Qué dijiste?
/keh dee-HEES-teh/
This means 'What did you say?'. Be careful with this one! Depending on the tone, it can sound very blunt, demanding, or even aggressive, similar to saying 'What'd you say?' in English.
🔑Key Words
Key Words to learn:
📊Quick Comparison
Choosing the right phrase depends heavily on politeness and context. Here’s a quick guide to the most common options.
| Phrase | Formality | Best For | Avoid When |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¿Cómo? / ¿Perdón? | Neutral | A quick, polite, and universal way to ask for repetition in any situation. | Never. This is always a safe and good choice. |
| ¿Puedes repetir...? | Informal | Speaking with friends, family, and people your own age. | In formal settings or when addressing elders or authority figures. |
| ¿Puede repetir...? | Formal | Addressing strangers, elders, bosses, professors, or in any professional context. | With close friends, where it might sound a bit stiff or distant. |
| ¿Podría repetir...? | Very Formal | Situations requiring maximum politeness, like speaking to an important official. | Casual conversations, as it can sound overly formal. |
| ¿Qué dijiste? | Very Informal | Very casual chats with close friends who won't be offended by bluntness. | Almost everywhere else. It's very easy for this to sound rude. |
📈Difficulty Level
The rolled 'rr' in 'repetir' can be a challenge for beginners, but the rest of the words are straightforward.
The main grammatical challenge is remembering to switch between the informal 'puedes' (tú) and the formal 'puede' (usted) depending on the situation.
Choosing the right level of formality and avoiding the rude-sounding '¿Qué?' is a key cultural skill that requires some practice.
Key Challenges:
- Rolling the 'rr' in 'repetir'
- Knowing when to use formal 'puede' vs. informal 'puedes'
- Breaking the English habit of saying 'What?' ('¿Qué?')
💡Examples in Action
La música está muy alta. ¿Puedes repetir eso, por favor?
The music is very loud. Can you repeat that, please?
Disculpe, señor, no le oí bien. ¿Podría repetir la dirección?
Excuse me, sir, I didn't hear you well. Could you repeat the address?
—Nos vemos a las ocho. —¿Cómo? Creí que habías dicho a las siete.
—See you at eight. —Pardon? I thought you had said at seven.
Profesora, ¿puede explicar esa parte otra vez? No la entendí.
Professor, can you explain that part again? I didn't understand it.
🌍Cultural Context
The Danger of '¿Qué?'
In English, saying 'What?' can be neutral. In Spanish, yelling '¡¿Qué?!' is almost always seen as abrupt and rude. Learners should default to the much safer and more polite '¿Cómo?' or '¿Perdón?' to avoid sounding like they're picking a fight.
The Story of '¿Mande?'
In Mexico, '¿Mande?' is a very common and polite way to say 'Pardon?'. It comes from the verb 'mandar' (to command) and historically was a deferential response to a superior. While it's perfectly normal in Mexico, speakers in other countries, like Spain or Argentina, might find it old-fashioned or overly submissive.
Formality Matters
The choice between 'puedes' (for 'tú', informal 'you') and 'puede' (for 'usted', formal 'you') is a crucial social signal. When in doubt, always start with the formal '¿Puede repetir?'. It's always better to be too respectful than too familiar.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using '¿Qué?' instead of '¿Cómo?'
Mistake: "A tourist in a shop doesn't hear the price and says loudly, '¿QUÉ?'"
Correction: The tourist should say, '¿Cómo?' or '¿Perdón?'.
Confusing Formal and Informal
Mistake: "Saying '¿Puedes repetir?' to an elderly person or a police officer."
Correction: Use the formal version: '¿Puede repetir, por favor?'.
Forgetting 'Por Favor'
Mistake: "Just saying '¿Puede repetir eso?'"
Correction: Always try to add 'por favor' at the end: '¿Puede repetir eso, por favor?'
💡Pro Tips
Start with the Quickest Options
In a fast-moving conversation, you don't always have time for a full sentence. Get comfortable with using '¿Cómo?' and '¿Perdón?'. They are your fast, reliable, and always-polite tools for clarification.
Combine with 'Más Despacio'
Often, the problem isn't just that you didn't hear, but that they spoke too fast. Combine your request: 'Perdón, ¿puedes repetirlo más despacio, por favor?' (Pardon, can you repeat it more slowly, please?).
Use Body Language
Don't underestimate the power of non-verbal cues. Cupping your ear, leaning in, or having a slightly confused look on your face will signal that you're having trouble hearing, making your verbal request even clearer.
Pinpoint the Problem
If you understood most of the sentence but missed one word, you can ask specifically about it. For example, 'Entendí la primera parte, pero ¿puedes repetir la última palabra?' (I understood the first part, but can you repeat the last word?).
🗺️Regional Variations
Mexico
The use of '¿Mande?' is a hallmark of Mexican Spanish. It's considered very polite and is used constantly in all types of interactions. While its origins are deferential, today it's simply a common courtesy.
Spain
'¿Perdona?' (informal) and '¿Perdone?' (formal) are extremely common. You will rarely, if ever, hear '¿Mande?'. In a very informal setting among young people, '¿Qué?' might be used, but '¿Cómo?' is still safer.
Argentina
Argentinians use 'vos' instead of 'tú', so the verb form changes. Instead of 'puedes', they say 'podés' ('¿Podés repetirlo?'). The 'vos' form is used universally in informal contexts.
💬What Comes Next?
After they repeat it and you understand
Claro, dije que la reunión es a las tres.
Of course, I said the meeting is at three.
Ah, perfecto. ¡Gracias!
Ah, perfect. Thanks!
After they repeat it, but you still don't understand
Dije que la reunión es a las tres.
I said the meeting is at three.
Lo siento, mi español no es muy bueno. ¿Puedes escribirlo?
I'm sorry, my Spanish isn't very good. Can you write it down?
You ask them to repeat and they get annoyed
¡Que la reunión es a las TRES!
I said the meeting is at THREE!
Perdón, es que hay mucho ruido.
Sorry, it's just that there's a lot of noise.
🧠Memory Tricks
The Spanish verb 'repetir' looks and sounds very similar to the English 'repeat', making it one of the easier words to remember in the phrase.
This connects the literal meaning of 'cómo' ('how') to its functional use for asking someone to repeat themselves, helping you avoid the common mistake of saying '¿Qué?' ('What?').
🔄How It Differs from English
The biggest difference is the social consequence of saying 'What?'. In English, tone determines if 'What?' is rude. In Spanish, the word '¿Qué?' itself is considered blunt in this context, regardless of tone. The polite equivalent is '¿Cómo?' (How?). Additionally, the mandatory grammatical distinction between formal ('usted') and informal ('tú') requests is much stricter in Spanish than the optional 'sir/ma'am' in English.
Spanish is generally more indirect than English when making requests to show politeness. Using phrases like '¿Podría...?' (Could you...?) or always adding 'por favor' is the cultural norm, whereas in English, a simple 'Repeat that, please' can be acceptable in some contexts.
False Friends & Common Confusions:
Why it's different: Translating 'What?' directly to '¿Qué?' is a classic beginner mistake. '¿Qué?' is used to ask for information ('¿Qué hora es?'), not to ask for repetition, where it sounds demanding.
Use instead: Use '¿Cómo?' or '¿Perdón?' to politely ask someone to repeat what they said.
🎯Your Learning Path
➡️ Learn Next:
How to say 'Please speak more slowly'
This is often the next logical request after you've asked someone to repeat themselves.
How to say 'I don't understand'
If repetition doesn't solve the problem, you need to be able to state clearly that you don't understand.
How to say 'What does that mean?'
This allows you to ask for the definition of a specific word you didn't catch, which is more efficient than having the whole sentence repeated.
How do you spell that?
A great follow-up for clarifying names, addresses, or difficult words, especially over the phone.
✏️Test Your Knowledge
💡 Quick Quiz: Can you repeat that?
Question 1 of 3
You're in a noisy café and didn't hear what your new friend said. What's the quickest and most natural way to ask them to repeat it?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it ever okay to say '¿Qué?' to ask someone to repeat something?
It's best to avoid it as a learner. Among very close friends or family, in a very informal context, it can sometimes be used, but it's very easy for it to sound rude. Sticking to '¿Cómo?' or '¿Perdón?' is always the safer, more polite choice.
What's the real difference between '¿Puedes repetir?' and '¿Puede repetir?'
It's all about formality. '¿Puedes...?' uses the 'tú' form, which is for informal situations with people you know well, friends, or peers. '¿Puede...?' uses the 'usted' form, for formal situations, strangers, elders, and people in positions of authority. When in doubt, use '¿Puede...?'.
What's the quickest, easiest thing to say if I miss something?
Just say '¿Cómo?' (KOH-moh) or '¿Perdón?' (pehr-DOHN). Both are one-word, polite, and universally understood. They are the perfect go-to phrases for any situation where you need a quick clarification.
How can I ask them to speak slower at the same time?
You can combine the phrases. A great, all-purpose sentence is: 'Perdón, ¿puede repetirlo más despacio, por favor?' This translates to 'Pardon, can you repeat it more slowly, please?'.
I heard someone say '¿Mande?' Is that used everywhere?
No, '¿Mande?' is a regionalism, primarily used in Mexico and some parts of Central America. While it's very polite there, it's not used in Spain, Argentina, or many other Spanish-speaking countries, where it might sound old-fashioned or even strange.
What's the difference between 'repetir eso' and 'repetirlo'?
They mean the same thing! 'Repetir eso' means 'to repeat that'. 'Repetirlo' combines the verb 'repetir' with the pronoun 'lo' (it) to mean 'to repeat it'. Both are correct and widely used, with 'repetirlo' sometimes feeling a bit more fluid in conversation.
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