Which one should you use?
The default form repita uses the formal command, making it appropriate for strangers, elders or professional settings. For more variety, you can use several other forms: ¿Podría repetir, por favor? (Could you please repeat?), ¿Puede repetirlo, por favor? (Can you repeat it, please?), ¿Sería tan amable de repetirlo? (Would you be so kind as to repeat it?) or ¿Disculpe, podría volver a decirlo? (Excuse me, could you say it again?). In informal settings, you can use ¿Puedes repetirlo, por favor? (Can you repeat it, please?), ¿Podrías decirlo de nuevo? (Could you say it again?) or ¿Me lo puedes repetir? (Can you repeat it to me?).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, you might hear ¿Disculpa, puedes repetirlo? which means "Excuse me, can you say it again?"
How does it change in a sentence?
When speaking to someone you know well or someone younger than you, use the informal repite, por favor instead of the formal repita, por favor.
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, a simple ¿Mande? is used instead of repita, por favor to ask someone to repeat themselves. This is especially common in Mexico and carries a historical connotation of respect and obedience.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, simply saying ¿Cómo? while raising your pitch is a very common, informal way to ask someone to repeat themselves without using the full phrase.
- While repita is the formal command, in some regions, using the formal mode with a close friend or family member can be a subtle way of showing sarcasm or fake formality during a joke.
Examples in context
- ¿Podrías decirme esa dirección una vez más?Could you give me that address once more?
- ¿Me puedes repetir el nombre de ese restaurante italiano?Can you repeat the name of that Italian restaurant?
- No escuché, repita, por favor.I didn't hear, repeat, please.
- No comprendo, repita, por favor.I don't understand, repeat, please.
Example conversation
At a busy cafe where the waiter is speaking too fast.
- ElenaDisculpe, ¿qué dijo?Excuse me, what did you say?
- AlejandroDije que el café está listo.I said that the coffee is ready.
- ElenaNo le entendí, repita, por favor.I didn't understand you, repeat, please.
- AlejandroClaro, el café ya está listo.Sure, the coffee is ready now.
