Italian Phrase
Puoi ripeterlo, per favore?
Meaning
A courteous way to ask someone to repeat what they just said. The speaker uses the informal second‑person form, so it’s appropriate with friends, classmates, or anyone you address with tu.
When to use
Use this phrase when you didn’t catch a sentence, need clarification, or want the speaker to say something again. It works in both spoken and written Italian, especially in casual or semi‑formal settings.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Puoiripeterlo,perfavore?
Potere (Puoi)
Puoi is the second‑person singular present of potere, used to ask permission or make a request.
Ripeterlo (infinitive + pronoun)
Ripeterlo combines the infinitive ripetere ‘to repeat’ with the direct object pronoun lo, meaning ‘it’. The pronoun is attached to the infinitive.
Per favore
A polite phrase meaning ‘please’; it usually follows the request.
🗨In Conversation
Puoi ripeterlo, per favore?
Can you repeat that, please?
Certo, lo dico di nuovo: ‘Il treno parte alle otto.’
Sure, I’ll say it again: ‘The train leaves at eight.’
✕Common Mistakes
Può ripeterlo, per favore?
Può is the formal form; using it with friends sounds stiff. Match the verb to the pronoun you’re using.
Puoi ripetere, per favore?
The direct object pronoun lo must be attached to the infinitive; otherwise the sentence feels unfinished.
Puoi ripeterlo, per piacere?
While per piacere also means ‘please’, per favore is far more common in everyday speech.
↔Alternatives
Potresti ripeterlo, per favore?
Could you repeat that, please?
Mi potresti ripetere, per favore?
Could you repeat it for me, please?
Puoi dirlo di nuovo, per favore?
Can you say it again, please?
Cultural Tip
In Italian, adding per favore after a request makes it sound polite, but the verb form still signals the level of formality. Puoi is informal (tu); in a formal context you would say Può ripeterlo, per favore? Also, Italians often use the pronoun lo with infinitives, so don’t forget it – saying just “Puoi ripetere?” sounds incomplete.