Reiterating Auditory Information in Spanish

Common Phrases for Requesting Repetition

In Spanish, various expressions can be used to ask someone to repeat what they have said. These phrases differ in formality and nuance, catering to different contexts and relationships between speakers.

Informal Options

• ¿Perdón?: A simple and widely used option, equivalent to "Excuse me?" or "Pardon?".
• ¿Cómo?: Literally "How?", used colloquially to ask for clarification or repetition.
• ¿Mande?: Primarily used in Mexico and some other Latin American countries, acting as an informal way to say "What?" or "Excuse me?".

Formal Options

• ¿Puede repetir, por favor?: Translates directly to "Can you repeat, please?".
• ¿Podría repetir, por favor?: A more polite and formal version, using the conditional tense.
• Disculpe, ¿me lo puede repetir?: "Excuse me, can you repeat it to me?".

Using Verbs of Repetition

The verb repetir (to repeat) is central. Other verbs that add nuance include aclarar (to clarify) and explicar (to explain).

Examples Using Repetir

• Repite, por favor: "Repeat, please." (imperative, informal)
• ¿Puede repetir eso?: "Can you repeat that?"
• ¿Podría repetir lo que dijo?: "Could you repeat what you said?"

Adding Specificity to the Request

To be more specific, one can indicate which part of the message needs repeating.

• ¿Puede repetir la última parte?: "Can you repeat the last part?"
• ¿Qué dijiste después de...? : "What did you say after...?"

Contextual Considerations

The appropriate choice depends on the relationship between the speakers (formal vs. informal), the geographical location (as usage varies), and the level of politeness desired.