Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use this phrase to politely ask someone to repeat information you didn't catch.
- Means: A standard, polite request for a speaker to restate their last sentence.
- Used in: Classrooms, business meetings, or when you simply didn't hear someone.
- Don't confuse: 'Repeat that' (direct) with 'Could you repeat that?' (more polite).
Explicação no seu nível:
Significado
Used to ask someone to say something again.
Contexto cultural
Americans value efficiency. Using this phrase is seen as a quick, polite way to keep a conversation moving. British speakers might add 'Sorry' before the phrase to be extra polite.
Add 'Sorry'
Adding 'Sorry' at the start makes you sound much more polite.
Add 'Sorry'
Adding 'Sorry' at the start makes you sound much more polite.
Teste-se
Which is the most polite?
How do you ask someone to repeat?
Adding 'please' makes it polite.
🎉 Pontuação: /1
Recursos visuais
Banco de exercicios
2 exerciciosHow do you ask someone to repeat?
Adding 'please' makes it polite.
🎉 Pontuação: /2
Perguntas frequentes
1 perguntasNo, it is very polite if you include 'please'.
Frases relacionadas
Say that again
synonymAsk to repeat
Onde usar
Classroom
Teacher: The homework is due on Friday.
Student: Repeat that, please.
Phone Call
Caller: My number is 555-0199.
Receiver: Sorry, repeat that, please.
Memorize
Mnemônico
Think of a 'Re-play' button on a video. You want to 'Re-peat' the sound.
Associação visual
Imagine a radio with a rewind button. You press it, and the person's voice plays again.
Rhyme
If you missed the beat, ask them to repeat.
Story
Sarah was in a loud cafe. Her friend told her a secret. Sarah didn't hear it. She smiled and said, 'Repeat that, please.' Her friend laughed and said it again.
In Other Languages
Most languages have a polite way to ask for repetition. It is a universal human need in communication.
Word Web
Desafio
Next time you are in a noisy place, try to use this phrase instead of just saying 'What?'
Review in 1 day, 3 days, and 1 week.
Pronúncia
Stress the second syllable.
Espectro de formalidade
Could you please repeat that? (General)
Repeat that, please. (General)
Say that again? (General)
Come again? (General)
Derived from Latin 'repetere'. It entered English via Old French.
Curiosidade
The word 'repeat' is used in music to indicate a section should be played again.
Notas culturais
Americans value efficiency. Using this phrase is seen as a quick, polite way to keep a conversation moving.
“Repeat that, please, I didn't catch the address.”
British speakers might add 'Sorry' before the phrase to be extra polite.
“Sorry, could you repeat that, please?”
Iniciadores de conversa
I'm sorry, I didn't hear the time. Could you repeat that, please?
Erros comuns
Repeat!
Repeat that, please.
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
¿Puedes repetir eso, por favor?
Spanish often uses the 'tú' or 'usted' form, which changes the verb conjugation.
Pouvez-vous répéter, s'il vous plaît ?
French speakers often omit the object 'that' (ça) if it is implied.
Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?
German requires the object 'das' (that) to be placed before the verb.
もう一度お願いします (Mou ichido onegaishimasu)
The focus is on the quantity of times rather than the action of repeating.
هل يمكنك تكرار ذلك من فضلك؟
Arabic grammar requires gender agreement for the person being addressed.
Spotted in the Real World
“Could you repeat that, please?”
Office meeting
Fácil de confundir
Learners think it means 'say it again'.
'Repeat after me' is for copying, 'Repeat that, please' is for clarification.
Perguntas frequentes (1)
No, it is very polite if you include 'please'.
basic understanding