هل يمكنك تكرار ذلك؟
hal yumkinuka takrar dhalik?
The English phrase "can you repeat that?" is translated into Arabic as هل يمكنك تكرار ذلك؟ (hal yumkinuka takrar dhalik?).
This phrase is a polite request used to ask someone to say something again because you did not hear or understand them.
Which one should you use?
In contrast, spoken dialects are used in daily conversation.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal or professional settings, use the Modern Standard Arabic version هل يمكنك تكرار ذلك؟. In daily conversation and spoken dialects, the phrase ممكن تعيد؟ is much more common and less formal. An informal option is تقدر تكرر؟.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Egyptian Arabic, you can say تاني؟ to mean "Again?" when requesting a repeat.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the verb changes depending on who you are addressing: use هل يمكنك تكرار ذلك؟ (hal yumkinuka takrar dhalik?) when addressing a male, and use هل يمكنكِ تكرار ذلك؟ (hal yumkinuki takrar dhalik?) when addressing a female.
How do you pronounce it?
hal yumkinuka takrar dhalik?
Did you know?
- In many Arabic dialects, if you are struggling to understand someone, you might hear the word نعم (na'am), which usually means 'yes' but serves as a polite 'pardon' or 'what did you say'.
- If you use the formal version in a casual street market, you might sound like a news anchor or a character in a historical drama rather than a local.
- The verb كرر used in تكرار comes from a root meaning 'to return' or 'to turn back', reflecting the idea that the speaker is returning to the start of their sentence.
Examples in context
- لم أسمع، هل يمكنك تكرار ذلك؟lam asma', hal yumkinuka tikrar dhalik?I didn't hear, can you repeat that?
Example conversation
Ziad is talking to Noor in a noisy room.
- زياد Ziadمرحباً يا نور، كيف حالك اليوم؟Marhaban ya Noor, kayfa haluki al-yawm?Hello Noor, how are you today?
- نور Nourأنا بخير، شكراً لك يا زياد.Ana bikhayr, shukran laka ya Ziyad.I am fine, thank you Ziad.
- زياد Ziadهل تذهبين إلى المكتبة غداً؟Hal tadhhabina ila al-maktabah ghadan?Are you going to the library tomorrow?
- نور Nourعفواً، هل يمكنك تكرار ذلك؟Afwan, hal yumkinuka tikrar dhalik?Excuse me, can you repeat that?
