How to Ask Someone to Repeat Something in Italian: Polite Clarification Requests
Learn the core Italian patterns for asking someone to repeat what they said, from the informal Puoi ripetere? to the polite staff-facing Scusi, può ripetere più lentamente?
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
When you miss a word in Italian, the fastest repair is a short, polite request for repetition. The direct answer is this: use ripetere for 'repeat', and choose the form of potere that matches the relationship. With friends and family, Puoi ripetere? works. With strangers, shop staff, or anyone you address as Lei, say Può ripetere? or Scusi, può ripetere? Add piano or più lentamente when speed was the problem, and use Come? only in informal settings, since it can sound abrupt in formal ones. This lesson keeps the focus on repetition itself, not on asking for a full explanation of meaning.
By the end, you can…
- ask someone to repeat what they said using informal and formal Italian patterns.
- choose between Puoi ripetere?, Può ripetere?, Come?, and Scusi, può ripetere più lentamente? according to register and situation.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Puoi ripetere?
Can you repeat?
PWOH-ee ree-PEH-teh-reh
Informal singular, used with friends, family, classmates, and people you already address as tu. It is a direct but friendly request for the same words again.
Scusi, può ripetere?
Excuse me, can you repeat?
SKOO-zee, pwoh ree-PEH-teh-reh
Formal singular, used with strangers, staff, older people, and anyone you address as Lei. Scusi softens the request before the question.
Come?
What? Sorry, what did you say?
KOH-meh
Very short clarification request. It is common among friends and peers, but it can sound blunt with strangers or in formal service situations, where Scusi, come? is safer.
Può ripetere più lentamente, per favore?
Can you repeat more slowly, please?
pwoh ree-PEH-teh-reh pyoo len-tah-MEN-teh, pehr fah-VOH-reh
Formal and polite. Use it when you understood some words but the speed caused the problem. Per favore makes the request warmer.
Scusa, non ho capito. Puoi ripetere?
Sorry, I didn't understand. Can you repeat?
SKOO-zah, nohn oh kah-PEE-toh. PWOH-ee ree-PEH-teh-reh
Informal pattern that combines an apology with a clear request. Non ho capito states the problem; Puoi ripetere? asks for the same words again.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is a form of potere plus ripetere: Puoi ripetere? for tu, Può ripetere? for Lei. You can add the object phrase quello che hai detto or quello che ha detto, but it is often unnecessary because the context makes the request clear. For example, Puoi ripetere quello che hai detto? means 'Can you repeat what you said?' and Può ripetere quello che ha detto? is its formal equivalent. If speed is the issue, add più lentamente or piano: Può ripetere più lentamente? and Puoi ripetere piano? both ask for slower repetition. These are requests for the same words, not requests for a definition or explanation.
When to use it
Choose the register before you choose the phrase. With a friend, Puoi ripetere? or Come? is normal. With a barista, a receptionist, or an official you do not know, use Scusi, può ripetere? or Scusi, può ripetere più lentamente? If you are speaking to a group, use Potete ripetere? for informal plural and Può ripetere? for one formal person. In northern and central Italy, Come? is widely used among peers; in formal contexts, Scusi, come? sounds more polite. If you need the person to spell a name or write it down, that is a different request: Può fare lo spelling? or Può scriverlo? Do not use those as substitutes for repetition.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Scusi, può ripetere? Non ho sentito bene.
Excuse me, can you repeat? I didn't hear well.SKOO-zee, pwoh ree-PEH-teh-reh. nohn oh sen-TEE-toh BEH-nehCerto. Il treno parte dal binario sette.
Of course. The train leaves from platform seven.CHEHR-toh. eel TREH-noh PAR-teh dahl bee-NAH-ryoh SEHT-tehGrazie. Può ripetere più lentamente, per favore?
Thank you. Can you repeat more slowly, please?GRAH-tsyeh. pwoh ree-PEH-teh-reh pyoo len-tah-MEN-teh, pehr fah-VOH-rehSì. Il treno parte dal binario sette. Binario sette.
Yes. The train leaves from platform seven. Platform seven.see. eel TREH-noh PAR-teh dahl bee-NAH-ryoh SEHT-teh. bee-NAH-ryoh SEHT-tehA little context goes a long way
Italian has a clear tu/Lei distinction, and repetition requests show it well. Puoi ripetere? is for people you call tu; Può ripetere? is for people you address with Lei. In service encounters, starting with Scusi is common and polite, and adding per favore is never out of place. Among friends, Come? is normal, but with strangers it can sound too direct. Regional usage varies, but the tu/Lei choice remains the main social signal.
One thing to watch for
Using Come? with a stranger or in a formal service situation because it is short and easy to remember.
Try this instead: Use Scusi, come? or Scusi, può ripetere? with strangers and staff. Come? alone is fine with friends, but in formal contexts it can sound abrupt. For example, say Scusi, può ripetere? rather than Come? when speaking to a receptionist.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You are talking to a friend and missed the last word. Which informal phrase asks them to repeat?
Show a sample answer
Puoi ripetere?
Puoi is the tu form of potere, so it matches a friend. Come? is also possible in informal speech, but Puoi ripetere? is the clearest direct request for repetition.
2You are at a hotel reception and the clerk speaks too fast. Which formal request fits best?
Show a sample answer
Scusi, può ripetere più lentamente, per favore?
Può matches the formal Lei, più lentamente addresses speed, and per favore keeps the request polite. Scusi, può ripetere? is also correct if you do not need to mention speed.
3A classmate says something you did not catch. You want to say 'Sorry, I didn't understand. Can you repeat?' in informal Italian. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
Scusa, non ho capito. Puoi ripetere?
Scusa and puoi are informal, and non ho capito states the problem clearly. You could also say Scusa, non ho capito. Come? among peers, but Puoi ripetere? is more explicit.
Use Puoi ripetere? with friends and Può ripetere? with strangers or staff; add più lentamente or piano when speed caused the problem, and keep Come? for informal settings.
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