How to Ask Someone to Repeat
Missing a phrase the first time is normal. Use ¿Puede repetir, por favor?, listen again for one key detail, and thank the speaker for helping.
Learning objective
Ask ¿Puede repetir, por favor? when you need to hear something again.
When one detail disappears, ask for a second listening chance: ¿Puede repetir, por favor? means Can you repeat, please? Puede is a present form of poder used here with respectful singular usted. Repetir is the infinitive meaning to repeat, and por favor adds courtesy.
With one person addressed informally as tú, use ¿Puedes repetir, por favor? The choice between puede and puedes depends on relationship, setting, and regional habits; it is not a universal scale of kindness. If unsure, listen to how people address one another or begin with the locally expected respectful option.
Before the repetition, choose one listening target. If someone says La reserva es para el martes a las ocho, you might listen only for the day. After asking for repetition, catch martes rather than attempting to translate every word. A narrow target makes the second hearing more useful.
Confirm the recovered detail: ¿El martes?, On Tuesday? The speaker can answer Sí or correct it. You can also specify a missing item with ¿Puede repetir el número?, Can you repeat the number? This focused request reduces unnecessary repetition when only one part caused trouble.
Examples
¿Puede repetir, por favor?
Can you repeat, please?
Puede suits respectful singular address in this example.
¿Puedes repetir, por favor?
Can you repeat, please?
Puedes suits informal singular address.
¿Puede repetir el número?
Can you repeat the number?
El número identifies the exact missing detail.
¿El martes? — Sí, el martes.
On Tuesday? — Yes, on Tuesday.
Echoing the keyword confirms what you recovered.
Common mistake
- Instead of
- ¿Puede repite, por favor?
- Try
- ¿Puede repetir, por favor?
After the conjugated verb puede, the second verb stays in the infinitive repetir. Repite is already another conjugated form, so combining puede repite gives both verbs competing for the same job. Keep puede plus infinitive as the working pattern.
Practice
Try it yourself
Use this message: La reserva es para el viernes a las nueve. First choose day or time as your listening target. Ask for repetition, then echo only the recovered detail as a confirmation question.