You're standing in a bustling cafe in Madrid or maybe a tiny taco spot in Mexico City. The barista says something fast. Really fast. It sounded like a single, blurry word, but you know it was actually an entire sentence about your oat milk latte. Your brain freezes. You need them to repeat it, but your mind goes blank. You want to say it again in Spanish, but "¿Qué?" feels a bit too blunt, and you can't remember the formal way to ask.
We’ve all been there.
Spanish isn't just one language; it’s a collection of vibes, regions, and social hierarchies. Asking a teenager to repeat a joke is worlds away from asking a government official to restate a legal requirement. If you use the wrong phrase, you might come off as rude, or worse, totally lost.
The Basic Ways to Ask Someone to Say It Again in Spanish
The most common, "textbook" way to handle this is ¿Puede repetir, por favor? It works. It's safe. It's also incredibly stiff. Imagine if every time you didn't hear someone in English, you said, "Could you please repeat that statement?" People would think you’re a Victorian ghost.
In real life, native speakers use shorter, punchier phrases.
If you're among friends, ¿Cómo? is the undisputed king. It’s short. It’s effective. It basically translates to "How?" but carries the weight of "What was that?" It's much softer than the English "What?" which can sound aggressive. In Spanish, ¿Qué? is the one that actually sounds a bit sharp, so use it sparingly unless you're genuinely surprised or annoyed.
Then there’s the classic ¿Mande? If you spend any time in Mexico, you'll hear this constantly. It’s fascinating because it technically comes from the verb mandar (to command), a linguistic relic from colonial times. Some people find it a bit submissive, while others see it as the height of politeness. If you say it in Spain, they’ll know what you mean, but they’ll definitely know you learned your Spanish in North or Central America.
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When You Need Specificity
Sometimes just asking them to repeat the whole thing isn't enough. You might have caught the gist but missed a specific word.
- ¿Otra vez? (Another time/Again?) — Great for when you need a quick redo.
- ¿Cómo dijo? (What did you say?) — A bit more formal, using the past tense.
- No te entendí. (I didn't understand you.) — Direct and honest.
Why Speed is Your Biggest Enemy
Spanish is statistically one of the fastest languages in the world. According to a study by researchers at the University of Lyon, Spanish speakers pack more syllables into a second than English speakers do. Even though the "information density" is similar—meaning they aren't necessarily communicating more info, just using more sounds to do it—it can feel like a machine gun of vowels to a learner.
When you ask someone to say it again in Spanish, you aren't just asking for a replay. You're often asking them to slow down.
Try saying: Más despacio, por favor. (Slower, please.)
Pairing a request for repetition with a request for speed is the "pro move." It signals that you aren't just deaf; you're a learner trying to process the phonetics. Most native speakers are incredibly patient once they realize you're making an effort. They’ll usually drop the slang and enunciate the second time around.
Regional Quirks You Should Know
Context is everything. Honestly, where you are determines the "correct" way to ask for a redo.
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In Argentina or Uruguay, you might hear ¿Cómo decís? because of the use of voseo (using vos instead of tú). In the Caribbean—think Puerto Rico or the Dominican Republic—the "s" sounds often disappear. Someone might say something that sounds like ¿Cómo 'tá? instead of ¿Cómo estás? If you ask them to say it again, they might just repeat the same shortened version.
In Spain, ¿Perdona? or ¿Perdone? is very common. It’s like saying "Pardon?" or "Excuse me?" It’s polite, widely accepted, and fits almost any situation from a bar to a boardroom.
The "I'm Lost" Scale
- Level 1: Slight glitch. ¿Perdón?
- Level 2: Didn't catch the last bit. ¿Cómo?
- Level 3: Total blackout. No entendí nada, ¿puedes repetir más lento?
Avoiding the "Polite" Traps
There’s a weird thing learners do where they try to be too polite. They'll say something like, “Disculpe, caballero, ¿sería tan amable de repetir lo que acaba de decir?” Don't do that.
By the time you finish that sentence, the conversation has moved on three topics. You’ve killed the vibe. Spanish is a very social, flowing language. Interrupting with a massive, grammatically complex sentence is like putting a brick wall in the middle of a river. Keep it short. Keep it moving.
Say it again in Spanish doesn't have to be a big production.
Understanding the "Listener's Responsibility"
In some cultures, if you don't understand, it's your fault. In others, it's the speaker's job to be clear. Spanish-speaking cultures vary, but generally, there's a high level of "high-context" communication. People expect you to pick up on cues.
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If you keep asking for repetitions, eventually the speaker might switch to English if they can. This is the "death knell" for a language learner. To prevent this, don't just ask them to repeat; show them what you did understand.
- Dijo que el tren sale a las seis, ¿verdad? (You said the train leaves at six, right?)
This proves you're listening. It turns a "say it again" moment into a "confirm this" moment. It’s much more engaging for the person you're talking to.
Practical Steps to Improve Your Ear
Asking for repetition is a band-aid. The real goal is to not need it as often.
Start by listening to podcasts like Radio Ambulante or News in Slow Spanish. These help bridge the gap between "classroom Spanish" and "the guy yelling in the street Spanish." Real-world Spanish is messy. It has background noise, overlapping voices, and regional accents that don't exist in Duolingo.
Also, pay attention to filler words. Words like este... (um...), pues (well...), and o sea (I mean...) act as "thinking space." If you can identify these, you can ignore them and focus on the "meat" of the sentence. Often, when people repeat themselves, they use even more filler words, which can actually make it harder to understand them the second time if you aren't prepared for it.
Actionable Next Steps
- Audit your "Repeat" Phrases: Next time you're practicing, don't just use ¿Cómo? Try using ¿Qué dijiste? (What did you say? - informal) or ¿Mande? to see how it feels.
- Watch for Body Language: In many Spanish-speaking cultures, a slight lean forward or a squint is a universal sign for "I didn't get that." Combine it with a quick ¿Perdón?
- Focus on Verb Endings: Usually, the first half of a Spanish word tells you the meaning, and the second half tells you who did it and when. If you miss the end, ask: ¿Quién? (Who?) or ¿Cuándo? (When?) instead of asking for the whole sentence.
- Practice the "Slower" Request: Memorize Habla más despacio, por favor until it's muscle memory. You'll need it more than you think.
- Don't Panic: The moment you panic, your brain stops processing language and starts processing "danger." Take a breath. It’s okay to not understand. Even native speakers from different countries have to ask each other to repeat things sometimes. A Spaniard in rural Chile is going to be just as confused as you are.
The goal isn't perfection. The goal is communication. If you can ask someone to say it again in Spanish with confidence, you've already won half the battle. You're staying in the conversation instead of nodding blankly and walking away. That's where the real learning happens.