Ask Someone To Repeat Something: When you are talking to someone about Something it so happens that you fail to hear what the other person is saying or you fail to make out what the other person wants to convey.
In such situations, we tend to ask the person to repeat what they had just said since you could not catch up. As simple as this sounds, but this is not an easy task.
Asking someone to repeat themselves can sometimes sound slightly offensive, but it’s alright, you don’t need to worry anymore.
Today in this specific article we will discuss the polite ways to ask for repetition, and learn how to make your sound not offensive when asking for repetition and clarification.
Ask Someone To Something
Polite ways to ask someone to repeat themselves
Do you often no longer recognize what people are trying to say or fail to pay attention to what they are pronouncing? Some English speakers often communicate unclearly or too fast, making it difficult to apprehend their phrases. In this article I would present to you a few well-mannered ways of asking someone to repeat what they stated. You’ll examine expressions inclusive of “pardon”, “I failed to quite hear you”, “could you communicate more slowly, please?” And some other ways too.
So, let’s get into the list of ways to ask someone to repeat themselves politely.
- Sorry, I didn’t catch that.
- Could you run that by me again?
- Did you just say __?
- Sorry, I still didn’t hear you.
- Speak louder, please?
- Would you mind repeating that (enter your topic name), please; I have hearing loss.
- I’m hard of hearing?
- Sorry, I don’t know that word. What does it mean?
- Sorry, could you speak more slowly, please?
- Sorry, could you speak up, please?
- Could you tell me what it means?
- Sorry, I don’t follow you.
- Could you repeat that, please?
- Could you say that once again, please?
- I didn’t really catch what you said.
- Sorry, I cannot understand at all what you are saying.
- I can’t really hear your voice…, could you kindly repeat that?
- What was that?
- I did not at all get that
- Can you say this in another way, please?
- I’m sorry?
- I’m lost
- Would you mind repeating that?
- Excuse me?
- Pardon (me)?
- Sorry?
- Come again?
- I beg your pardon?
Examples of how to use them in a sentence
Sorry, I didn’t catch that.
- Sorry I didn’t catch that, I wasn’t paying attention, can you say that once more.
- I got distracted, sorry I couldn’t catch that.
- The noise was really loud, sorry I couldn’t catch that.
- Can you come closer sorry I didn’t catch up
- Sorry I couldn’t catch you at the hospital, can you say that once more.
Situation
A: According to the weather forecast I don’t think we will continue the meeting tomorrow, we will hold it next week sometime.
B: Sorry, I didn’t catch that. Did you say next week?
Could you run that by me again?
- Could you run the alphabets by me again
- I know you’ve already gave me all the information but could you run that by me again
- Could you run your telephone number by me again.
- If you fail to understand, to let me know I would gladly run that by you again.
Situation
A: I think the boss said it would be difficult for us to handle on our own, so he would send more people, like at least 5 more
B: How many? Could you run that by me again.
Did you just say __?
- Did you just say fish? I could not hear you properly.
- Did you just say you want to quit the job?
- Did you just say Monday or Tuesday, I did not get you.
- Did you just say you won’t be able to participate tomorrow, there’s too much noise here, can you say that once more?
Situation
A: The school would open from Tuesday, not Wednesday.
B: Wednesday? Did you just say Wednesday or Tuesday?
Sorry, I still didn’t hear you.
- Sorry I still didn’t hear you the wind kept interrupting
- I know I’m asking this once more, but sorry I still did not hear you.
- It’s getting late. I need to hurry, but can you please say that once more, sorry I still did not hear you.
- I keep getting distracted at times, sorry I still did not hear you.
Situation
A: It was Alice who called the cops last night, the mob is going after her, we need to save her.
B: The cops are after Alice? What did she do?
A: The mob, not the cop.
B: The who? Sorry I still didnt hear you.
Speak louder, please?
- The music is very loud. Can you speak louder please?
- Professor we can’t hear you at the back could you speak louder please?
- I’m sorry but I fail to hear you, can you speak louder please?
- No one can hear you so speak louder please?
- I can’t hear you properly. Could you speak louder please?
Situation
A: Hello everyone I am Jonathan and my topic for today is Climate change.
B: Jonathan child, could you speak louder, please?
Would you mind repeating that (enter your topic name ), please; I have hearing loss.
- Would you mind repeating what you said about the animals going wild please, I have a hearing loss.
- Would you mind repeating the instructions please, I have a hearing loss.
- Would you mind repeating the price of this dress please, I have a hearing loss.
- Would you mind repeating your complaint please, I have a hearing loss.
Situation
A: So, with this we end the lesson today. Anyone any questions?
B: Teacher, would you mind repeating that part about the migration route of the Seagulls? I have a hearing loss, I couldn’t hear properly.
I’m hard of hearing?
- That thing you said right now, I couldn’t hear it, I’m hard of hearing?
- The lighting was loud right now and I’m hard of hearing. Can you say it once more?
- I could hear you partially. I’m hard of hearing?
- I’m hard of hearing, so please could you tell me the details once more.
Situation
A: Mam this is your receipt for the vegetables.
B: Sir, I’m hard of hearing, can you say that once more.
Sorry, I don’t know that word. What does it mean?
- The word you used back at the restaurant, sorry I don’t know that word. What does it mean?
- Those vocabulary words you were using in the English class, sorry, I don’t know that word. What does it mean?
- In the Japanese class the teacher was explaining some letters of Hanji, sorry I don’t know that word. What does it mean?
Situation
A: So, which one are you? An introvert, an extrovert or an ambivert?
B: Sorry I don’t know that word. What does it mean? The last word
Sorry, could you speak more slowly, please?
- I know you are getting late but sorry, could you speak more slowly, please?
- We have a lot of time to talk about it, so sorry could you speak more slowly, please?
- Sorry, could you speak more slowly please? Since I couldn’t catch that speed of yours
Situation
A: According to the law, if Robert has been caught guilty then he would be punished, but then there is his politician brother who would definitely interfere with this matter, and I’m genuinely worried about our health now.
B: Sorry, could you speak even more slowly, please?
Sorry, could you speak up, please?
- I wasn’t paying attention, sorry could you speak up, please?
- The call got cut off, sorry could you speak up, please ?
- The audio wasn’t clearly audible, so sorry, could you speak up, please?
- I couldn’t hear it from the back of the seat sorry, could you speak up, please?
Situation
A: Hello mam, hello can you hear me?
B: Yes hello, sorry, could you speak up please, once more. I had some network issues.
Could you tell me what it means?
- The symphony you write about could you tell me what it means?
- The teacher did give us all the notes, could you tell me what it means?
- The things they said in the news, could you tell me what it means.
- The radio signal went off suddenly, could you tell me what it means?
Situation
A: Hello, could you tell me what it means? The programme professor was explaining about?
B: Yes sure why not.
Sorry, I don’t follow you
- The rules you said earlier about those, sorry, I don’t follow you.
- Teacher, sorry, I don’t follow you, can you explain once more?
- Sorry I don’t follow you on the climate topic, can you please tell me once more?
- The friend here says she did not follow you, can you please say that once more.
Situation
A: So, I will proceed on with the next topic.
B: Sorry, I don’t follow you, can you say that once more.
Could you repeat that, please?
- The voice was unclear, could you repeat that, please?
- The birds keep distracting me, could you repeat that please?
- I know we are running late but could you repeat that, please?
- The topic still stays unclear for me, could you repeat that please?
Situation
A: Sir could you repeat that please? Someone kicked me out of the meeting.
B: Sure I would, and don’t kick out your classmates from the meeting.
Could you say that again, please?
- My mind was slightly occupied at the moment, could you say that again, please?
- Did you say something about the papers? Could you say that again, please?
- Was the Jacket black or brown? Could you say that again please?
- Did they win, did you just say they won? Could you say that again please? I couldn’t hear properly.
Situation
A: Sir could you say that again, plese?
B: Alright this is the last time i’m repeating so listen carefully.
I didn’t really catch what you said.
- I didn’t really catch you at the class earlier, can you say that once more.
- Mister, did you say something to me? I didn’t really catch what you said.
- Was the information directed towards me? I didn’t really catch what you said.
- I heard till the “you will come late” but I didn’t really catch what you said afterwards, can you please say it again?
Situation
A: Captain we are losing, what should we do?
B: What? I didn’t really catch what you said.
Sorry, I can not understand at all what you are saying.
- I’m trying but I’m really sorry, I can not understand at all what you are saying.
- The music in the background is getting louder, sorry I can not understand at all what you are saying.
- Sorry I can not understand at all what you are saying, so please can you repeat?
- The poet you said? Sorry I can not understand at all what you are saying.
Situation
A: Mam can you hand over the phone to your husband
B: Can I do what? Sorry I can not understand at all what you are saying.
I can’t really hear your voice…, could you kindly repeat that?
- Hello? I can’t really hear your voice sir, could you kindly repeat that?
- Can you please go to a quieter place, I can’t really hear your voice, could you kindly repeat that?
- There’s a lot of loud cars around this highway, I can’t really hear your voice, could you kindly repeat that?
- Was it the Nova store you said? I can’t really hear your voice Mam, could you kindly repeat that?
Situation
A: Mom, I will come home by 6 in the evening.
B: Hello? I can’t really hear your voice Ariel, could you kindly repeat that?
What was that?
- Monday? This Monday? What was that?
- What was that? The thing you said right now I couldn’t catch, sorry?
- What was that? An ambulance? I don’t know.
- The paperwork was cancelled? What was that?
Situation
A: Group C was eliminated because they could not submit the work on time
B: Group C was eliminated? What was that?
I did not at all get that…
- I did not at all get that, the last part can you please say it once more.
- I did not at all get what you said in the third class. Can you please say it again?
- Did you say tomorrow or today? I did not at all get that?
- We would have to submit the project on the 11th or the 12th. Which one? I did not at all get that.
Situation
A: So do you understand all the rules till now?
B: Sorry, I did not at all get that. The last rule, can you say it once more.
Can you say this in another way, please?
- Can you say this in another way please? I don’t understand anything.
- Did you mean I will have to follow the first page or the second page, can you say this in another way please?
- The information you said today, can you say this in another way please?
- Teacher I think the class doesn’t understand. Can you say this in another way please?
Situation
A: Climate change is when harmful toxic elements get mixed in our environment.
B: I understand your explanation about climate change, but Can you say this another way, plese?
I’m sorry?
- I’m sorry? Did you mean me?
- I think you were talking about the document related to me, I’m sorry?
- Did you say something about the class tomorrow? I’m sorry?
- I’m sorry? Did you already mention my roll number? Can you say it once more?
Situation
A: They are calling for you brother.
B: I’m sorry? Me? Right now?
I’m lost
- I’m lost please, say that once more.
- I know you said that once to me, I’m lost please say that once more
- I’m lost, there was too much panic here, can you please repeat that once more?
- I know I am a bit dumb but I’m lost, please tell me once more I don’t understand anything
Situation
A: So, to solve this particular sum, first take the numerator and then multiply it with the denominator of the other number and then…
B: I’m lost. Can you please explain once more.
Would you mind repeating that?
- I was on the phone with someone else too at the same time, would you mind repeating that?
- I’m really sorry, I missed all that information, would you mind repeating that?
- Teacher, would you mind repeating the paragraph once more?
- Brother would you mind repeating the rules once more, some people did not catch up on it.
Situation
A: Your lot number would be 1117
B: Would you mind repeating that? I wasn’t paying attention.
Excuse me?
- Excuse me? Did you say something to me? I wasn’t paying attention.
- Excuse me Mam, could you repeat that, since I was unable to get it through.
- I think I could not get that, excuse me, can you please repeat?
- I know you tried your best but excuse me Sir, can you please repeat?
Situation
A: Excuse me sir, is this the way to the hospital?
B: Yes, this is the way.
Pardon (me)?
- Pardon, can you say the whole phrase again.
- I’m really very sorry for all the inconvenience caused, but Pardon me, can you please say it once more.
- Pardon me sir, I can’t hear you at all, please do tell me once more.
- Pardon? I did not get you, can you please repeat the sign in process.
Situation
A: Do you know the road to the Oceania Shop?
B: Pardon me? The Oceania shop?
Sorry?
- The officers of the second division you were talking about? Sorry? I don’t understand.
- I’m trying to understand but I really can’t, so please can you repeat once sorry?
- Sorry? What did you say? I could not get a hold of it.
- Yes I was talking about the diamonds, but sorry? What was the next part?
Situation
A: Sir, next is your turn to enter the room.
B: Sorry?
A: Sir, next is your turn. Please proceed to enter.
Come again?
- Did you say something about the sign board outside? Come again?
- About the parking lot before,I could not get a hold of it coming again?
- Sorry I had my headphones on, come again please.
- I heard the story about the ducks but then it got cut off, come again please will you?
Situation
A: Can you pass me the green book?
B: Come again? Which book?
I beg your pardon?
- I couldn’t hear properly, I beg your pardon?
- The trucks were loud, I beg your pardon
- I’m still confused about a lot of things here but I really could not get the last part, I beg your pardon?
- I beg your pardon? I couldn’t hear you clear enough because of the distance
Situation
A: The total price would be 124 dollars.
B: I beg your Pardon?
A: 124 dollars.
It’s critical to realize how to ask someone to repeat something in English whether or not you’re a local speaker or an English learner. In each case, there are going to be conditions where you absolutely don’t pay attention to what a person says to you. As a learner, there will also be conditions which you might not understand because of how something was framed or said. Hence in this specific article we have tried to bring you the easiest ways possible so that next time when you want to ask someone to repeat themselves, it becomes easier for you.