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Italian · Meeting people · Elementary

How to ask someone to repeat in Italian

Say “Scusi, non ho capito” or “Può ripetere, per favore?”. If it’s too fast: “Parli più piano, per favore” or “Può ripetere un po’ più lentamente?”. For a word you don’t know: “Che cosa significa questa parola?”. And for numbers, names or codes: “Può scriverlo, per favore?”.

Try it · about two minutes

At the post office, the clerk talks too fast for you, so you ask them to repeat, slow down and write it down.

Sound on: the post office clerk speaks Italian. You choose what to say back, and Frasa tells you why it works.

The conversation

  1. Post office clerk

    Preferisce la spedizione standard o espressa?

    Would you prefer standard or express delivery?

    You

    Scusi, non ho sentito bene.

    Sorry, I didn’t hear that properly.

  2. Post office clerk

    Mi capisce?

    Do you understand me?

    You

    Parli più piano, per favore.

    Please speak more slowly.

  3. Post office clerk

    Lo vuole tracciabile?

    Do you want it tracked?

    You

    Che cosa vuol dire tracciabile?

    What does tracciabile mean?

  4. Post office clerk

    Vuol dire che può seguire il pacco online.

    It means you can follow the parcel online.

    You

    Ah, ho capito. Sì, tracciabile, grazie.

    Ah, I see. Yes, tracked, please.

  5. The clerk reads out a long tracking code, all in one breath.

    You

    Può scriverlo, per favore?

    Can you write it down, please?

  6. Post office clerk

    Lo scrivo per lei.

    I’ll write it down for you.

    You

    Grazie mille per la pazienza.

    Thank you so much for your patience.

Key phrases

  • Scusi, non ho capito.

    Sorry, I didn’t understand.

  • Può ripetere, per favore?

    Can you repeat that, please?

  • Parli più piano, per favore.

    Please speak more slowly.

  • Può ripetere un po' più lentamente?

    Can you repeat that a bit more slowly?

  • Parla un po' troppo in fretta per me.

    You’re speaking a bit too fast for me.

  • Non ho capito l'ultima parte.

    I didn’t understand the last part.

  • Che cosa significa questa parola?

    What does this word mean?

  • Scusi, può dirlo con altre parole?

    Sorry, could you put it another way?

  • Può scriverlo, per favore?

    Can you write it down, please?

  • Sto ancora imparando, abbia pazienza.

    I’m still learning, please be patient.

Good to know in Italy

When you’re lost

  1. 1

    Ask them to say it again.

    Can you repeat that, please?
  2. 2

    Ask them to slow down.

    Please speak more slowly.
  3. 3

    Ask them to write it down.

    Can you write it down, please?

Lei with strangers

Clerks, strangers

Può ripetere, per favore?

Can you repeat that, please?

Friends, colleagues

Puoi ripetere, per favore?

Can you repeat that, please?

With clerks and people you don’t know, use the Lei form, può. With friends and colleagues who use tu, it’s puoi.

Prego? means pardon?

Said with a rising tone, “Prego?” or “Scusi?” asks someone to repeat. It’s quick and polite. A bare “Come?” can sound abrupt; “Come, scusi?” is softer.

More situations in Italian

All situations in Italian

Keep these phrases in Frasa

Frasa is an iPhone app for the conversations in front of you. Save phrases like these, rehearse them out loud, and they come back until they stick.

AI-generated. May be inaccurate.