Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| wie bitte | /ˈviː ˌbɪtə/ |
| bitte | /ˈbɪtə/ |
| nochmal bitte | /ˈnɔχmaːl ˈbɪtə/ (word by word) |
You can use bitte alone as a polite question with rising intonation to signal that you didn't catch what was said. Nochmal bitte is a slightly more casual way to ask someone to repeat a statement or a word.
Which one should you use?
Use wie bitte when you didn't hear someone and want them to repeat themselves, rather than using a literal translation of the English phrase 'come again'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
wie bitte is the standard polite way to ask for repetition. For a very informal and potentially blunt way to say 'what?', some speakers use was? In a more formal context, you might use full sentences such as Können Sie das wiederholen?, Würden Sie das bitte wiederholen? or Könnten Sie das noch einmal sagen?
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase nochmal bitte is a colloquial expression.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈviː ˌbɪtə/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using Kommen Sie wieder to mean 'could you repeat that?' In German, this literally means 'Please return/come back to this place'.
Did you know?
Examples in context
- Kommen Sie bitte wieder.Please come again.This sentence uses bitte to show a request for someone to return.Tatoeba #1314892 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #32558 by CK
- Würden Sie bitte später wieder kommen?Would you please come again later?This sentence uses bitte to ask if someone would please come again later.Tatoeba #2050948 by Manfredo, translation #71690 by CK
- Kommen Sie bitte in drei Tagen wieder.Please come again in three days' time.This sentence uses bitte to request that someone come again in three days' time.Tatoeba #781795 by MUIRIEL, translation #504248 by blay_paul
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julian and Hannah are talking in a busy cafe.
- JulianIch möchte einen großen Kaffee, Hannah.I would like a large coffee, Hannah.
- HannahWie bitte? Ich habe dich nicht gehört.Come again? I didn't hear you.
- JulianIch sagte, ich möchte einen Kaffee.I said I want a coffee.
- HannahAh, alles klar, Julian.Ah, alright, Julian.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “come again” translations and entries wie bitte, bitte, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (nochmal, bitte) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bitte, nochmal, wie, wie bitte, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
