Saying You Don't Understand and Asking for Repetition in Spanish

Saying you do not understand in Spanish

When you miss the meaning of something, the simplest useful phrase is No entiendo. — I don’t understand.

At this stage, treat No entiendo. — I don’t understand. as a complete communication tool. You do not need to analyze the verb yet. The goal is to signal clearly that the message has not been understood.

• No entiendo. — I don’t understand.

This phrase is useful after a greeting, a name, or another short expression when you understand that someone has spoken to you but you do not understand the meaning.

Asking someone to repeat with Otra vez

If you need to hear the same words again, use Otra vez. — Again. It is a short, direct request for repetition.

• Otra vez. — Again.

You can combine it with the phrase from the previous section:

• No entiendo. Otra vez. — I don’t understand. Again.

This tells the other person both what the problem is and what you need them to do.

Asking someone to speak more slowly

Sometimes repetition is not enough because the speech is too fast. In that case, use Más despacio. — More slowly.

• Más despacio. — More slowly.
• No entiendo. Más despacio. — I don’t understand. More slowly.

Use Otra vez. — Again. when you mainly need to hear the same words one more time. Use Más despacio. — More slowly. when speed is the main problem.

Not hearing clearly and not understanding are different problems

If you hear the sounds but do not understand the meaning, No entiendo. — I don’t understand. is the clearest choice.

If you simply need the person to say the same thing again, Otra vez. — Again. is enough.

If the person is speaking too quickly, Más despacio. — More slowly. directly addresses that problem.

You do not need to use all three every time. Choose one clear repair request that matches what went wrong.

Returning to a name exchange after repetition

These phrases are especially useful in the introductions you already know. If you do not understand a name or question, you can stop the exchange briefly, ask for repair, and then continue.

Person A: Hola. — Hello.

Person B: Hola. — Hello.

Person A: ¿Cómo te llamas? — What is your name?

Person B: No entiendo. Más despacio. — I don’t understand. More slowly.

Person A: ¿Cómo te llamas? — What is your name?

Person B: Me llamo Alex. — My name is Alex.

A different exchange may require repetition instead:

Person A: Me llamo Isabel. — My name is Isabel.

Person B: Otra vez. — Again.

Person A: Isabel. — Isabel.

Person B: Isabel. — Isabel.

After the repetition, the conversation continues normally. The repair phrase is only a brief interruption that helps you recover the message.

Keeping repair requests simple and useful

You do not need a long explanation when communication breaks down. A short phrase can be more effective because the other person immediately understands what you need.

• No entiendo. — I don’t understand.
• Otra vez. — Again.
• Más despacio. — More slowly.

These expressions are best learned as ready-made phrases for now. The grammar behind them belongs to later lessons. Your immediate goal is to keep a basic Spanish exchange moving instead of giving up when you miss something.

From repairing communication to asking how someone is

You can now signal that you do not understand, ask for repetition, and ask someone to speak more slowly before returning to the conversation. The next lesson adds a common social question: how to ask how someone is and give a short answer in Spanish.