Spanish · Real conversations
Ask someone to repeat naturally in Spanish
You can request a repeat, identify the part you missed, or ask for slower delivery. Explain the listening problem rather than implying the speaker's information is wrong.
Three ways to say it
Perdón, ¿podrías repetirlo?
Sorry, could you say that again?
A polite general repeat request when you missed the whole message.
No alcancé a escuchar la última parte.
I didn't catch the last part.
Identify the last part as the part you did not hear clearly.
¿Podrías decirlo un poco más despacio?
Could you say it a little more slowly?
Ask for a slower version when hearing the same speed again would not help.
Avoid translating word by word
In English, 'I didn't catch that' means you did not hear or understand it; 'catch' does not refer to grabbing something. The examples use a natural hearing or understanding expression for that situation.
See the difference in context
Hearing the time of a meeting
La reunión empieza a las nueve y media.
The meeting starts at half past nine.
Perdón, ¿podrías repetirlo?
Sorry, could you say that again?
Missing the last part of directions
Nos vemos en la estación, junto a la taquilla.
We meet at the station, beside the ticket office.
No alcancé a escuchar la última parte.
I didn't catch the last part.
Your turn
Ask the person to say the message a little more slowly. Make the listening adjustment specific.
Reveal a sample reply
¿Podrías decirlo un poco más despacio?
Could you say it a little more slowly?
This speaking goal in other languages
A note on speaking Spanish
These guides use broadly understandable Latin American Spanish. Tú is familiar and usted is respectful or formal, with important regional variation. Me gustaría and ¿podría …? are useful for considerate requests.
Keep accent marks and opening question marks. Some regions choose different everyday words. Follow the complete example rather than substituting English words one by one, especially with pronouns and expressions of preference.
