Keep a conversation going when you miss a word or want to check a detail.

The idea

Use Could you repeat that, please? if you did not hear or understand. Please speak a little more slowly asks for a slower pace. To ask for letters, say How do you spell it? To check a detail, use Do you mean…? and repeat the part you heard. Thank the other person when the meaning is clear.

Examples

  • Could you repeat that, please?
  • Please speak a little more slowly.
  • What does this word mean?
  • How do you spell your name?
  • Do you mean the blue door?
  • Thank you. I understand now.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic English voice on your device. Quality and availability vary; it does not assess pronunciation.

Watch out

A request to repeat is different from a request to explain a word. Choose What does this word mean? for the meaning and How do you spell it? for its letters.

Try it yourself

  1. You did not hear. ___ (Could you repeat that? / Could you spell that?)

    Show answer or example answer

    Could you repeat that?

    Could you repeat that? politely asks someone to say something again.

  2. You need the spelling. ___ (How do you spell it? / How do you pronounce it?)

    Show answer or example answer

    How do you spell it?

    How do you spell it? asks for the letters in a word or name.

  3. You want to check the colour. ___ (Do you mean blue? / Do you mean tomorrow?)

    Show answer or example answer

    Do you mean blue?

    Do you mean blue? checks the detail you understood.

Use it today

Write two lines asking someone to repeat a name and then spell it. Add a short thank-you after you understand.