Signification
Asking someone to say something again.
Contexte culturel
Finns value clarity over small talk. If you didn't hear something, it's considered more respectful to ask for a repetition than to pretend you understood. In Northern regions, communication can be even more sparse. Clarity is essential for safety in harsh environments, making clarification phrases very common. In Finnish offices, time is money. If an instruction is unclear, 'Voitko toistaa sen?' is used immediately to avoid wasting time on errors. With the rise of remote work in Finland, this phrase has become a staple of 'Teams-etiketti' (Teams etiquette) when audio fails.
Add 'Anteeksi'
Always start with 'Anteeksi' (Sorry) to sound more natural and polite.
Watch the 'sen'
Don't forget the 'n' at the end of 'sen'. Saying 'Voitko toistaa se' sounds like 'Can you repeat that thing' in a broken way.
Signification
Asking someone to say something again.
Add 'Anteeksi'
Always start with 'Anteeksi' (Sorry) to sound more natural and polite.
Watch the 'sen'
Don't forget the 'n' at the end of 'sen'. Saying 'Voitko toistaa se' sounds like 'Can you repeat that thing' in a broken way.
The 'Voisitko' Upgrade
If you are talking to someone older or in a position of authority, use 'Voisitko' to instantly sound more fluent.
Don't be shy
Finns expect you to ask if you don't understand. They won't think you are slow; they'll think you are thorough.
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing word to complete the polite request.
Anteeksi, ______ toistaa sen?
'Voitko' (Can you) is the correct modal verb for making a request.
Which of these is the most polite way to ask a teacher to repeat something?
Valitse kohteliain vaihtoehto:
The conditional form 'Voisitko' is more polite than the indicative 'Voitko'.
Match the Finnish phrase with its English meaning.
Yhdistä parit:
All pairs are correctly matched in the options list.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Bussi lähtee laiturilta viisi.' B: 'Anteeksi, en kuullut. ___________?'
Since B says 'I didn't hear', the logical follow-up is to ask for a repetition.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesAnteeksi, ______ toistaa sen?
'Voitko' (Can you) is the correct modal verb for making a request.
Valitse kohteliain vaihtoehto:
The conditional form 'Voisitko' is more polite than the indicative 'Voitko'.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
All pairs are correctly matched in the options list.
A: 'Bussi lähtee laiturilta viisi.' B: 'Anteeksi, en kuullut. ___________?'
Since B says 'I didn't hear', the logical follow-up is to ask for a repetition.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, it's perfectly fine, though with very close friends you might just say 'Mitä?' or 'Sano uusiks'.
Yes, 'Voitko toistaa?' is grammatically correct and very common in spoken Finnish.
'Toistaa' is 'to repeat', while 'sanoa uudelleen' is 'to say again'. They are interchangeable in 99% of situations.
Say: 'Voitko toistaa sen hitaammin?'
It's not 'bad word' rude, but it can sound like 'What do you want?' or 'I'm not listening'. Use it sparingly.
Because it's the object of a completed action. In Finnish grammar, this is the accusative case.
Yes! 'Voitko toistaa sen liikkeen?' (Can you repeat that move?) is perfect.
Use the plural: 'Voitteko toistaa sen?'
Say: 'Anteeksi, en vieläkään ymmärrä. Voitko selittää?' (Sorry, I still don't understand. Can you explain?)
Yes, 'Uusiks?' (Again?) is very casual slang.
Expressions liées
Sanoisitko uudestaan?
synonymWould you say it again?
Mitä sanoit?
similarWhat did you say?
Voisitko puhua hitaammin?
builds onCould you speak more slowly?
Anteeksi?
similarPardon?
Kerrataanko?
specialized formShall we review?
