Spanish Phrase
¿Puedes repetirlo, por favor?
Meaning
A polite way to ask someone to say something again because you didn’t hear or understand it. The request is direct but softened by ‘por favor’. It can be used in both casual and semi‑formal settings.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need clarification in a conversation, a classroom, a meeting, or while listening to a speaker. It works well in everyday interactions, but if you need a more formal tone, switch to ‘¿Podría repetirlo, por favor?’
✦Grammar Breakdown
¿Puedesrepetirlo,porfavor?
Poder (present)
‘Puedes’ is the 2nd‑person singular present of poder, used to ask if someone is able to do something.
Infinitive + direct object pronoun
‘repetirlo’ combines the infinitive ‘repetir’ with the pronoun ‘lo’ to refer to ‘it’ (the thing to repeat).
Polite phrase ‘por favor’
Place ‘por favor’ after the request; it softens the sentence and shows courtesy.
🗨In Conversation
¿Puedes repetirlo, por favor?
Can you repeat that, please?
Claro, dije que la reunión será a las tres de la tarde.
Sure, I said the meeting will be at three in the afternoon.
✕Common Mistakes
¿Puedes repetir, por favor?
Without the pronoun ‘lo’ the sentence sounds incomplete because the object (what to repeat) is missing.
¿Puedes repetirlo, por favor?
Using ‘puedes’ with a formal ‘usted’ can sound too casual; switch to ‘puede’ or ‘podría’ for formal contexts.
↔Alternatives
¿Podrías repetirlo, por favor?
Could you repeat that, please?
¿Me lo puedes decir otra vez, por favor?
Can you tell me that again, please?
Disculpa, ¿puedes decirlo otra vez?
Sorry, can you say that again?
Cultural Tip
In Spanish‑speaking cultures, adding ‘por favor’ is essential for politeness, especially when asking for something again. ‘¿Puedes…?’ is informal; in a formal setting (e.g., with a professor or a senior colleague) use ‘¿Podría…?’ or ‘¿Sería tan amable de…?’. Also, keep eye contact and a friendly tone to show genuine interest.