Meaning
Asking someone to say something again.
Cultural Background
The word '¿Mande?' is the standard polite way to say 'What?' or 'Can you repeat that?'. It is deeply ingrained in Mexican culture and is taught to children as the only respectful response to elders. Spaniards are often more direct. While '¿Puedes repetirlo?' is common, you will frequently hear a quick '¿Cómo?' or '¿Perdón?'. It's not considered rude, just efficient. In Argentina, you might hear '¿Cómo decís?' using the 'voseo' (vos) form. It sounds very distinct due to the accent on the last syllable of the verb. Colombians are known for their extreme politeness. You might hear '¿Me repite, por favor?' or even '¿Qué pena, me podría repetir?'. The use of 'qué pena' (what a shame/sorry) is very common.
Add 'por favor'
Always add 'por favor' at the end to sound like a polite, advanced learner.
Don't just say '¿Qué?'
It can sound rude. Use '¿Cómo?' or the full phrase instead.
Meaning
Asking someone to say something again.
Add 'por favor'
Always add 'por favor' at the end to sound like a polite, advanced learner.
Don't just say '¿Qué?'
It can sound rude. Use '¿Cómo?' or the full phrase instead.
The 'Lo' trick
If you forget where to put 'lo', just stick it to the end of the infinitive. It's always correct!
Embrace the 'Mande'
If you are in Mexico, using '¿Mande?' will instantly make you sound more like a local and very polite.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing pronoun to complete the phrase.
¿Puedes repetir___?
The direct object pronoun 'lo' is used to refer to the neuter concept of 'what was said'.
Which of these is the most formal way to ask for repetition?
Select the formal option:
The use of 'Podría' (conditional) and 'usted' (formal you) makes this the most polite and formal choice.
Complete the dialogue with the most appropriate phrase.
A: El examen es en el aula 402. B: Perdón, no escuché bien. __________
Since B didn't hear well, asking for repetition is the logical response.
Match the phrase to the region.
Where would you most likely hear '¿Mande?'
'¿Mande?' is a classic Mexican expression for asking someone to repeat themselves.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercises¿Puedes repetir___?
The direct object pronoun 'lo' is used to refer to the neuter concept of 'what was said'.
Select the formal option:
The use of 'Podría' (conditional) and 'usted' (formal you) makes this the most polite and formal choice.
A: El examen es en el aula 402. B: Perdón, no escuché bien. __________
Since B didn't hear well, asking for repetition is the logical response.
Where would you most likely hear '¿Mande?'
'¿Mande?' is a classic Mexican expression for asking someone to repeat themselves.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsBoth are correct! '¿Puedes repetirlo?' is slightly more common in writing, while '¿Lo puedes repetir?' is very common in speech.
It depends on the tone, but generally, yes. It sounds like 'What?!' in English when you are annoyed. '¿Cómo?' is much safer.
Use 'Puede' (formal) for people you don't know, elders, or in professional settings. Use 'Puedes' (informal) for friends and family.
Yes, it's very common. It means 'Can you repeat it again?'.
Say: 'Lo siento, sigo sin entender. ¿Puedes decirlo de otra forma?' (I'm sorry, I still don't understand. Can you say it another way?).
Rarely. It's very specific to Mexico and some parts of Central America. In Spain, it sounds very old-fashioned or foreign.
Use the plural: '¿Pueden repetirlo?' (Latin America/Spain formal) or '¿Podéis repetirlo?' (Spain informal).
Yes, in Spanish, pronouns attach to the end of infinitives to form a single written word.
'Repetir' is common and everyday. 'Reiterar' is formal and often used in writing or speeches.
Usually, you'd say '¿Puedes ponerla otra vez?' (Can you play it again?) for a song, but '¿Puedes repetirla?' works if you mean the specific track.
Related Phrases
¿Cómo?
synonymHow? / What?
¿Perdón?
similarPardon? / Sorry?
¿Podrías hablar más despacio?
builds onCould you speak more slowly?
No entiendo
similarI don't understand
¿Qué dijiste?
informalWhat did you say?
