A0 · 12 · Complete beginner

How to Ask Someone to Repeat or Slow Down in Spanish

Spoken Spanish can move quickly in a busy café, station or reception in Spain. These requests help you say exactly what you need, whether that is repetition, slower or louder speech, or a moment to think.

Watch Clara explain this

Plays from YouTube when you press play; nothing loads from YouTube before then.

What you'll be able to do

✓Ask someone to repeat what they have said.
✓Distinguish the informal puedes form from the respectful puede form.
✓Request slower or louder speech with a phrase that works with anyone.
✓Ask for a brief pause when you need time to think.

Say what would help

When you miss some spoken Spanish, No entiendo tells the other person what the problem is. A specific request tells them what would help, such as repeating the words, speaking more slowly or speaking louder.

You can combine requests when necessary. ¿Puedes repetir? Más despacio, por favor. asks a friend to say the words again and to change their speed.

A quick pardon

Use ¿Cómo? when you miss one word or a short remark. On its own in this situation, it is a quick everyday way to say “Pardon?”

English speakers may recognise cómo as “how”, but that is not its meaning here. The earlier phrase ¿Perdón? can also be used when you have missed a short remark.

Ask for repetition

Use ¿Puedes repetir? with a friend or anyone you address with tú. Use ¿Puede repetir? with someone you address as usted.

English can use “Can you repeat?” with almost anyone. Spanish changes puedes to puede when the relationship or situation calls for the respectful form. Listen for, and remember, the final s in puedes.

Otra vez, por favor. means “Again, please.” It contains no informal or respectful verb form, so it works with anyone.

How you address the person	Request	What to notice
Informal, with tú	¿Puedes repetir?	Final s in puedes
Formal or respectful, with usted	¿Puede repetir?	No final s in puede

Ask for slower speech

Más despacio, por favor. is the short way to ask someone to speak more slowly. It works with anyone because there is no informal or respectful verb form in it.

With someone you address informally, you can use the complete question ¿Puedes hablar más despacio?. Here, puedes means “can you” and hablar means “to speak”.

The complete question taught here is informal. When you want a request that works with anyone, use Más despacio, por favor.

Change the volume or pause

If speed is not the problem and the person is simply too quiet, say Más alto, por favor. This asks for a louder voice, not slower speech.

Use Un momento. when you need the other person to pause briefly while you think, check something or process what you have heard.

Choose the request that matches the difficulty. Repeating the same sentence at the same speed or volume may not solve the problem.

What you need	What to say
You missed a short remark	¿Cómo?
You want the same words again without choosing a form	Otra vez, por favor.
The person is speaking too quickly	Más despacio, por favor.
The person is speaking too quietly	Más alto, por favor.
You need time to think	Un momento.

The words

¿Cómo?: Pardon?A quick everyday response after you miss a word or short remark.
¿Puedes repetir?: Can you repeat? (informal)Use with someone you address as tú; notice the final s in puedes.
¿Puede repetir?: Can you repeat? (formal or respectful)Use with someone you address as usted; puede has no final s.
Otra vez, por favor.: Again, please.A compact request that works with anyone.
Más despacio, por favor.: More slowly, please.A short request that works with anyone.
¿Puedes hablar más despacio?: Can you speak more slowly? (informal)A complete question for someone you address as tú.
Más alto, por favor.: Louder, please.Use when the problem is volume rather than speed.
Un momento.: One moment.Use to ask the other person to pause briefly.

More examples: real moments

At a museum receptionAt a museum reception in Madrid, Tom asks where the toilet is and needs the receptionist to speak more slowly.

Tom: Buenos días. ¿Dónde está el servicio?Good morning. Where is the toilet?
Receptionist: Arriba, a la izquierda.Upstairs, on the left.
Tom: ¿Puede repetir? Más despacio, por favor.Can you repeat? More slowly, please.
Receptionist: Arriba. A la izquierda.Upstairs. On the left.
Tom: Muchas gracias.Thank you very much.
Receptionist: De nada.You’re welcome.

In a noisy squareLucía and Nerea are talking in a noisy Madrid square one afternoon.

Lucía: ¡Buenas! ¿Qué tal?Hello! How’s it going?
Nerea: Regular.So-so.
Lucía: ¿Cómo?Pardon?
Nerea: Regular.So-so.

At the pharmacyRosa is speaking quietly to Carmen at the pharmacy counter.

Carmen: Buenas tardes.Good afternoon.
Rosa: Buenas tardes. ¿Cómo está?Good afternoon. How are you?
Carmen: Más alto, por favor.Louder, please.
Rosa: ¿Cómo está?How are you?
Carmen: Muy bien, gracias.Very well, thanks.

A moment at the stationAt Atocha station, an employee gives Tom a direction while he is checking where to go.

Station employee: Abajo, a la derecha.Downstairs, on the right.
Tom: Un momento.One moment.
Station employee: Claro.Of course.
Tom: Otra vez, por favor.Again, please.
Station employee: Abajo. A la derecha.Downstairs. On the right.
Tom: Gracias.Thank you.

Remember

•Use ¿Cómo? after missing a word or short remark.
•The final s distinguishes informal puedes from respectful puede.
•Use Otra vez, por favor. when you do not want to choose between forms.
•Use Más despacio for speed and Más alto for volume.
•Use Un momento. when you need a brief pause.

Practice

Type or choose your answer; each one is checked as you go.

1. Choose the useful request

Choose the request that best matches each situation.

1.You need a brief pause to think. What should you say?
2.Someone is speaking too quickly. Which request fits?
3.Someone’s voice is too quiet. Which request fits?
4.Which taught phrase specifically means “Pardon?” after a short remark?
5.Which full question asks someone respectfully to repeat?

2. Complete the phrases

Complete each Spanish request with the missing word.

1.¿ repetir? (informal)
2.¿ repetir? (formal or respectful)
3.Otra , por favor.
4.Más , por favor. (more slowly)
5.Un . (ask for a brief pause)

3. Translate the requests

Translate each request into Spanish.

1.Can you repeat? (informal)
2.Can you repeat? (formal or respectful)
3.Again, please.
4.More slowly, please.
5.Louder, please.
6.One moment.

4. Keep the conversation moving

Write a suitable reply for each situation.

1.A friend is speaking too quickly. Ask the complete informal question requesting slower speech.
2.Lucía says a whole sentence too quickly. Ask her to repeat, using the full informal question, then ask her to slow down.
3.A receptionist says a whole sentence too quietly. Use the full usted question to ask for repetition, then use the short request with por favor to ask for a louder voice.
4.You need time before asking a station employee to repeat. Ask for a moment, then use the respectful question.

Your turn

Write three lines: ask a friend to repeat, ask someone respectfully to repeat, and ask for slower or louder speech. Then say all three aloud.

That week's new lessons in your inbox, each with its free worksheet. Every lesson page stays free without signing up.

Grammar in this lesson: Tú, usted, vosotros and ustedes · Asking questions

Revised 30 October 2026