Which one should you use?
There are several ways to ask someone to repeat themselves depending on the setting. While Pouvez-vous répéter ? is a standard request, you can use Peux-tu répéter ? when speaking to a friend, a family member or someone you know well. For an even more polite and indirect approach, you can use the conditional form Pourriez-vous répéter ?, which translates to "Could you repeat?"
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a very common, polite and concise way to ask someone to repeat themselves in a social setting, you can simply say Pardon ? Conversely, saying Comment ? with a rising intonation is a common, slightly more casual way to express that you did not hear someone.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase Pouvez-vous répéter ? uses inversion, meaning the verb and the subject are swapped, to form a formal question.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using Quoi ? to ask someone to repeat themselves. While this means "What?" in English, using it in French can sound blunt or rude.
Did you know?
- In very casual French slang, people may use the word Hein ? to ask for a repetition, though this is considered extremely informal and potentially abrasive.
- The verb répéter is used in French music and theater to describe a rehearsal, meaning the actors are literally repeating the scenes.
- The word répéter comes from the Latin word repetere, which originally meant to seek again or demand back.
Examples in context
- Pourriez-vous répéter, s'il vous plaît?Could you repeat that, please?
- Pouvez-vous répéter, s'il vous plaît?Can you repeat that, please?
- Pardon, pouvez-vous répéter ?Sorry, can you repeat that?
- Je n'ai pas compris, pouvez-vous répéter ?I didn't understand, can you repeat that?
Example conversation
Manon is talking to Lucas on a noisy street.
- ManonC'est à quelle heure ?What time is it?
- LucasLe rendez-vous est à dix heures.The appointment is at ten o'clock.
- ManonDésolée, pouvez-vous répéter ?Sorry, can you repeat that?
- LucasJe dis que c'est à dix heures.I'm saying it's at ten o'clock.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries répéter, CC BY-SA 4.0.
