A1 Expression Neutro

Voitko toistaa?

Can you repeat?

Phrase in 30 Seconds

A polite, essential way to ask someone to repeat what they just said in Finnish.

  • Means: 'Can you repeat?' (literally: Can-you to-repeat?)
  • Used in: Classrooms, noisy cafes, or when someone speaks too fast.
  • Don't confuse: With 'Mitä?', which is 'What?' and can sound blunt.
👂 + ❓ = 🔁 'Voitko toistaa?'

Explanation at your level:

This is a basic 'survival' phrase. It uses the verb 'voida' (can) and 'toistaa' (repeat). You use it when you don't understand someone. It is very polite and helpful for students.
At this level, you recognize the question particle '-ko' attached to the verb 'voit'. You can also expand the phrase by adding adverbs like 'hitaasti' (slowly) or 'uudestaan' (again) to make your request more specific.
Intermediate learners should notice the difference between 'Voitko' and the conditional 'Voisitko'. While 'Voitko' is a direct question of ability, 'Voisitko' functions as a polite request. You might also start using 'Sanoisitko uudestaan' as a more idiomatic alternative.
Upper-intermediate learners understand that 'toistaa' is a transitive verb that often takes an object in the partitive or accusative case. You can now use this phrase in complex sentences, such as 'Voitko toistaa sen, mitä sanoit äsken?' (Can you repeat what you just said?).
Advanced learners analyze the pragmatic functions of this phrase. It serves as a repair mechanism in conversation. You might compare it to more formal variants like 'Saisinko pyytää toistoa?' or understand how it functions in different dialects (e.g., 'Voitko kerrata?').
At a mastery level, one appreciates the subtle sociolinguistic nuances of using the interrogative mood versus the imperative. You understand the historical development of the verb 'toistaa' from the root 'toinen' and can manipulate the phrase to fit the specific register of any Finnish social hierarchy, from 'slangi' to 'kirjakieli'.

Significado

Requesting to hear information again.

🌍

Contexto cultural

Finns value directness. If you don't hear something, it's better to ask 'Voitko toistaa?' immediately rather than pretending to understand. Faking understanding is seen as a waste of time. In Finnish schools, students are encouraged to interrupt if they don't follow. 'Voitko toistaa?' is a very common sound in any lecture hall. In the highly tech-savvy Finnish culture, this phrase is used constantly on Teams and Zoom. Finns are very forgiving of technical glitches. Older Finns might prefer the formal 'Voisitteko', while younger generations use 'Voitko' almost everywhere. As a learner, 'Voitko' is a safe middle ground.

🎯

Add 'Anteeksi'

Always start with 'Anteeksi' (Excuse me/Sorry) to sound much more polite and natural.

⚠️

Don't just say 'Mitä?'

While common, 'Mitä?' can sound like 'Huh?' or 'What?!' in a rude way if your intonation is flat.

Significado

Requesting to hear information again.

🎯

Add 'Anteeksi'

Always start with 'Anteeksi' (Excuse me/Sorry) to sound much more polite and natural.

⚠️

Don't just say 'Mitä?'

While common, 'Mitä?' can sound like 'Huh?' or 'What?!' in a rude way if your intonation is flat.

💬

Finns are patient

Don't be afraid to ask twice. Finns generally appreciate that you are trying to learn their difficult language.

Teste-se

Fill in the missing verb in its correct form.

Anteeksi, voitko _______?

✓ Correto! ✗ Quase. Resposta certa: toistaa

After the modal verb 'voitko', you must use the infinitive form 'toistaa'.

Which phrase is the most polite for a job interview?

Asking for repetition in a formal setting:

✓ Correto! ✗ Quase. Resposta certa: Voisitteko toistaa?

'Voisitteko' uses the conditional mood and plural 'you', making it the most formal and polite.

Complete the dialogue.

A: Nimeni on Korhonen. B: Anteeksi, _______?

✓ Correto! ✗ Quase. Resposta certa: voitko toistaa

B is asking for the name to be repeated because they didn't catch it.

Match the phrase to the situation.

You are at a loud concert and can't hear your friend.

✓ Correto! ✗ Quase. Resposta certa: Voitko toistaa?

This is the standard phrase for when you can't hear someone due to noise.

🎉 Pontuação: /4

Recursos visuais

Ways to ask for repetition

🎩

Formal

  • • Voisitteko toistaa?
  • • Saisinko pyytää toistoa?
😐

Neutral

  • • Voitko toistaa?
  • • Anteeksi?
👋

Informal

  • • Sanoisitko uudestaan?
  • • Mitä sanoit?
😎

Slang

  • • Täh?
  • • Mitä?

Perguntas frequentes

10 perguntas

In modern Finland, it's usually fine, but 'Voisitko toistaa?' is safer and more professional.

'Toistaa' is the verb (to repeat), 'uudestaan' is the adverb (again). You say 'Voitko toistaa?' or 'Sanoisitko uudestaan?'.

Yes, 'Anteeksi?' with a rising intonation is a very common and polite way to ask for a repeat.

Say 'Voitko toistaa hitaasti?'.

Yes, 'Täh?' or 'Mitä?' are the most common slang/informal versions.

The '-ko' is a question particle that turns the statement 'Voit' (You can) into a question.

No, for text you would say 'Voitko kirjoittaa sen uudestaan?' (Can you write it again?).

Say 'En vieläkään ymmärrä, voitko selittää?' (I still don't understand, can you explain?).

Yes, 'toistaa' is also the verb for 'to play' media (like a song or video).

It literally means 'Can you', but in this context, it functions as a request like 'Will you'.

Frases relacionadas

🔄

Sanoisitko uudestaan?

synonym

Would you say it again?

🔗

Mitä sanoit?

similar

What did you say?

🔗

Voisitko puhua hitaammin?

builds on

Could you speak more slowly?

🔗

Kerrata

specialized form

To review/recap

🔗

Mitä?

similar

What?

Onde usar

🛒

At the Grocery Store

Cashier: Haluatteko kuitin sähköpostiin?

Learner: Anteeksi, voitko toistaa?

Cashier: Kuitti sähköpostiin?

neutral
📞

On a Phone Call

Friend: Nähdäänkö kello kuudelta rautatieasemalla?

Learner: Voitko toistaa? Huono yhteys.

neutral
🏫

In a Classroom

Teacher: Tehkää harjoitus numero viisi.

Student: Voitko toistaa sivun numeron?

neutral
🤝

Meeting a New Person

Finn: Nimeni on Yrjö-Petteri.

Learner: Anteeksi, voitko toistaa nimesi?

neutral
🍺

At a Noisy Bar

Stranger: Onko tässä vapaata?

Learner: Täh? Voitko toistaa?

informal
💼

Job Interview

Interviewer: Miten kuvailisit vahvuuksiasi?

Learner: Voisitteko toistaa kysymyksen?

formal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Voitko' as 'Wait, go?' and 'Toistaa' as 'Twice-sta'. 'Wait, go? Say it twice-sta!'

Visual Association

Imagine a giant silver '2' (for 'toinen/toistaa') with a question mark on top, spinning in a circle like a refresh button.

Rhyme

Voitko toistaa, valo loistaa! (Can you repeat, the light shines!)

Story

You are at a Finnish market. A vendor says a price that sounds like 'Yksitoistatuhattayhdeksänsataayhdeksänkymmentäyhdeksän'. Your brain freezes. You hold up two fingers (for 'toistaa') and say 'Voitko toistaa?'

Word Web

toinenuudestaankerratavoidaymmärtääkuullasanoa

Desafio

Next time you listen to a Finnish podcast, pause it every time you miss a word and say 'Voitko toistaa?' out loud before rewinding.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

¿Puedes repetir?

Spanish often omits the subject pronoun 'tú', whereas Finnish includes the suffix '-t' on the verb.

French high

Peux-tu répéter ?

French has a strict 'tu' vs 'vous' distinction that mirrors the Finnish 'voitko' vs 'voisitteko'.

German high

Kannst du das wiederholen?

German places the infinitive at the very end of the sentence.

Japanese moderate

もう一度言ってください (Mou ichido itte kudasai)

Japanese is much more focused on politeness levels (keigo) than the relatively egalitarian Finnish.

Arabic partial

هل يمكنك التكرار؟ (Hal yumkinuka al-tikrar?)

The Arabic version often uses a verbal noun (repetition) rather than a direct infinitive.

Chinese high

你可以再说一遍吗？ (Nǐ kěyǐ zài shuō yībiàn ma?)

Chinese specifies 'one time' (yībiàn) whereas Finnish just says 'repeat'.

Korean low

다시 말씀해 주시겠어요? (Dasi malsseumhae jusigesseoyo?)

Finnish is much more direct and doesn't use 'giving' as a metaphor for doing a favor.

Portuguese high

Pode repetir?

Portuguese 'Pode' can be both formal and informal depending on the region, while Finnish 'Voitko' is strictly singular/informal.

Easily Confused

Voitko toistaa? vs Mitä se tarkoittaa?

Learners use this when they didn't hear the words, but it actually asks for a definition.

Use 'Toistaa' for sound, 'Tarkoittaa' for meaning.

Voitko toistaa? vs Voitko kertoa?

Sounds like 'toistaa' but means 'Can you tell?'.

Remember 'Toistaa' has 'Toi' like 'Two' (repeat).

Perguntas frequentes (10)

In modern Finland, it's usually fine, but 'Voisitko toistaa?' is safer and more professional.

'Toistaa' is the verb (to repeat), 'uudestaan' is the adverb (again). You say 'Voitko toistaa?' or 'Sanoisitko uudestaan?'.

Yes, 'Anteeksi?' with a rising intonation is a very common and polite way to ask for a repeat.

Say 'Voitko toistaa hitaasti?'.

Yes, 'Täh?' or 'Mitä?' are the most common slang/informal versions.

The '-ko' is a question particle that turns the statement 'Voit' (You can) into a question.

No, for text you would say 'Voitko kirjoittaa sen uudestaan?' (Can you write it again?).

Say 'En vieläkään ymmärrä, voitko selittää?' (I still don't understand, can you explain?).

Yes, 'toistaa' is also the verb for 'to play' media (like a song or video).

It literally means 'Can you', but in this context, it functions as a request like 'Will you'.

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