What does it mean word for word?
repita is the imperative (command) form of the verb repetir (to repeat), and despacio means "slowly".
Which one should you use?
While repita despacio is a direct way to make the request, you can also use Por favor, repita con calma to say "Please, repeat slowly" or add más and por favor to the phrase to create the more polite and natural sounding repita más despacio, por favor (repeat more slowly, please). For an informal context, you might say Dime despacio otra vez (Tell me slowly again) or Puedes repetir más despacio, por favor (Can you repeat slower, please).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
repita despacio is a formal way to say "repeat slowly" in Spanish. For a more polite and natural sound in formal settings, use repita más despacio, por favor. Conversely, if you are speaking to a friend, a child or someone you know well, you should use the informal repite despacio.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are addressing more than one person, use the plural form repitan despacio.
How do you pronounce it?
/repita despaθjo/
Did you know?
- The word despacio is a linguistic fusion of the preposition de and the noun espacio, meaning 'space'.
- Using repita on its own can sound like a command given to a subordinate rather than a polite request for help.
- The word repetir shares a common ancestor with the English word 'repeat', both stemming from the Latin 'repetere' meaning 'to seek again'.
Examples in context
- El presentador solicitó al entrevistado: "Por favor, repita con calma."The host asked the interviewee: "Please, repeat slowly."
- Juan le dijo a su amigo: "Dime despacio otra vez. No te entendí."Juan said to his friend: "Tell me slowly again. I didn't understand."
- Carmen le pidió a su hermano: "Puedes repetir más despacio, por favor."Carmen asked her brother: "Can you repeat slower, please."
- Por favor, repita despacio.Please, repeat slowly.
- No entendí, repita despacio, por favor.I didn't understand, repeat slowly, please.
Example conversation
Sofía is practicing Spanish with Alejandro.
- SofíaNo entendí lo que dijo.I didn't understand what you said.
- AlejandroLo siento, lo digo otra vez.I'm sorry, I'll say it again.
- SofíaSí, repita despacio, por favor.Yes, repeat slowly, please.
- AlejandroClaro, Sofía, no hay problema.Sure, Sofia, no problem.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries despacio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
