A1 Expression Neutre

Parla lentamente

Speak slowly

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use 'Parla lentamente' to politely ask a native speaker to reduce their speaking speed so you can understand them better.

  • Means: A direct but polite request for someone to speak at a slower pace.
  • Used in: Language exchanges, asking for directions, or when a local speaks too fast.
  • Don't confuse: 'Parla lentamente' (imperative) with 'Parli lentamente' (polite subjunctive/formal).
Confused face + 'Parla lentamente' = Clearer communication

Explanation at your level:

This is a simple way to ask someone to speak slowly. Use it when you don't understand.
You use this phrase to manage your listening environment. It is a polite way to ask for a slower pace during a conversation.
This expression is a functional strategy for learners to maintain communication flow. By requesting a slower tempo, you ensure that you capture nuances in the speaker's tone and vocabulary.
In professional or complex social settings, this phrase acts as a pragmatic marker. It allows the speaker to adjust their register to accommodate the listener's proficiency level, ensuring effective information exchange.
This phrase functions as a meta-linguistic request. It highlights the listener's awareness of the cognitive load associated with processing rapid, native-level speech, prompting the interlocutor to modulate their delivery for optimal clarity.
At this level, the phrase is recognized as a standard pragmatic device for negotiating communicative competence. It demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of social dynamics, where the learner proactively manages the discourse pace to ensure mutual intelligibility in high-speed, idiomatic environments.

Signification

Requesting someone to slow down their speech.

🌍

Contexte culturel

People often speak faster; this phrase is essential. Speech can be more melodic and varied in speed.

💡

Add 'per favore'

Always add 'per favore' to be polite.

Signification

Requesting someone to slow down their speech.

💡

Add 'per favore'

Always add 'per favore' to be polite.

Teste-toi

Complete the sentence.

Per favore, ______ lentamente.

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : parla

Imperative 'tu' form is 'parla'.

🎉 Score : /1

Aides visuelles

Questions fréquentes

1 questions

No, it's helpful.

Expressions liées

🔗

Puoi ripetere?

similar

Can you repeat?

Où l'utiliser

📍

Asking for directions

You: Scusi, dov'è la stazione?

Local: Vai dritto, poi a destra...

You: Scusi, parla lentamente, per favore?

neutral
🗣️

Language exchange

Partner: Allora, cosa hai fatto ieri?

You: Parla lentamente, non ho capito tutto!

informal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Slow-motion' snail talking. 'Slow' = 'Lento'.

Visual Association

Imagine a turtle wearing a headset, speaking into a microphone very slowly.

Rhyme

Speak slowly, don't be a showy, just say 'parla lentamente' to the guy who is flowy.

Story

Marco is in Rome. He asks for directions. The local speaks too fast. Marco smiles and says, 'Parla lentamente, per favore.' The local laughs and slows down.

Word Web

parlarelentovelocementepianocapireripetere

Défi

Next time you listen to an Italian podcast, pause it and say 'Parla lentamente' to the host.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Habla más despacio

The word for 'slow' is different.

French high

Parlez plus lentement

French requires the 'plus' (more) for natural flow.

German moderate

Sprechen Sie bitte langsamer

German grammar requires the comparative form.

Japanese low

Yukkuri hanashite kudasai

Word order is completely different.

Arabic low

Takallam bibut'

Uses a noun-based construction instead of an adverb.

Easily Confused

Parla lentamente vs Parla piano

Learners think 'piano' means 'slowly'.

'Piano' means 'softly' or 'slowly' depending on context.

FAQ (1)

No, it's helpful.

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