Tu peux répéter ?
The English phrase "can you say that again?" can be translated into French as Tu peux répéter ?
This phrase is used to request that someone repeat something they have just said because you did not hear or understand them.
Which one should you use?
While Tu peux répéter ? is a standard way to ask for repetition, you can also use the much shorter and very common Pardon ? if you did not hear someone.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form Tu peux répéter ? is informal and should be used with friends, family or people you know well. For formal settings, such as when speaking to strangers or superiors, use Pouvez-vous répéter ?
How does it change in a sentence?
You can form a question in several ways. A standard way to form a question is to add Est-ce que to the beginning of the sentence, resulting in Est-ce que tu peux répéter ? Additionally, inverting the subject and the verb, as in Peux-tu répéter ?, makes the request a more formal question than using standard word order.
Did you know?
- If you want to sound more polite without using a full sentence, you can just say Comment ? instead of asking 'can you repeat?'
- In many French-speaking regions, simply saying Hein ? is a very common way to ask someone to repeat themselves, though it is considered quite blunt and impolite.
- While Pardon ? is a polite way to ask for repetition, using it with a falling intonation can sound like you are offended by what was said.
Examples in context
- Pouvez-vous répéter, s'il vous plaît?Can you repeat, please?
- Pourriez-vous répéter, je vous prie?Could you repeat, I beg you?
- Excusez-moi, pourriez-vous répéter?Excuse me, could you repeat?
- Pourrais-tu répéter?Could you repeat?
- Attends, je n'ai pas compris. Peux-tu répéter?Wait, I didn't understand. Can you repeat?
- Désolé, tu peux répéter ?Sorry, can you say that again?
- Je n'ai pas compris, tu peux répéter ?I didn't understand, can you say that again?
Example conversation
In a busy cafe, Lucas is trying to hear Léa.
- LucasQu'est-ce que tu as dit ?What did you say?
- LéaJe voulais dire que le café est froid.I meant to say that the coffee is cold.
- LucasPardon, tu peux répéter ?Sorry, can you say that again?
- LéaOui, le café est froid.Yes, the coffee is cold.
