How to Ask Someone to Repeat Themselves in English Politely

In professional conversations, we all miss things—maybe someone spoke too fast, the connection was unclear, or there was background noise. It’s completely normal to ask for repetition, but doing it politely is key to maintaining professionalism and respect. Here’s how to ask someone to repeat themselves using natural and professional English.  

What Are Clarifying Questions and When Should You Ask Them?

Important Reasons to Ask Someone to Repeat Themselves

If you don’t understand something, pretending you do can lead to mistakes and confusion. Asking for clarification or repetition the right way helps you:

• Avoid misunderstandings
• Show active listening
• Keep communication smooth
• Build better relationships

Using the right phrases lets you ask someone to repeat themselves clearly and in English politely, without sounding rude or impatient. Or repeat yourself is a common confused term in English.

Phrases for When You Don’t Understand Something in English

Do’s and Don’ts to Ask Someone to Repeat Themselves

✅ Do’s

• Ask with a respectful tone
• Smile or use friendly body language if face-to-face
• Use polite phrasing or softeners like “sorry” or “could you”
• Be specific when possible (e.g., ask them to repeat a certain part)

❌ Don’ts

• Don’t interrupt harshly
• Don’t say “What?” alone—it can sound too blunt
• Don’t act annoyed or impatient
• Don’t make the other person feel like it was their fault

How to Professionally Ask for More Information in an Email

1. General Polite Phrases to Ask for Repetition

These phrases are useful in almost any setting:

• “Sorry, could you repeat that please?”
• “I didn’t quite catch that. Can you say it again?”
• “Would you mind repeating that for me?”
• “I’m sorry, what was that again?”
• “Could you say that one more time, please?”

✅ Example: “Sorry, I didn’t catch that last part. Could you repeat it?”

2. Formal and Professional Situations

Use these in business meetings, presentations, or with clients:

• “Excuse me, could you clarify that point again?”
• “I’m sorry, the audio cut out for a moment—could you repeat that?”
• “Would you mind going over that again?”
• “Apologies, I missed that. Could you restate it?”
• “I didn’t quite follow. Would you mind saying that again?”

✅ Example: “Apologies, the connection was a bit unclear. Would you mind repeating that?”

3. Casual but Respectful Options

These work well in friendly, relaxed conversations:

• “Sorry, what was that?”
• “Can you say that again?”
• “I didn’t hear you—could you repeat it?”
• “Come again?” (informal, use with people you know well)
• “What did you say just now?”

✅ Example: “I didn’t hear that clearly—can you say it again?”

Clarifying questions explained (with examples and tips)

4. Ask Someone to Repeat Themselves: Group Discussions or Online Meetings

In group or remote settings, you can be specific about what you missed:

• “Sorry, could you repeat the last point?”
• “The sound cut out—can you say that again?”
• “Could you repeat that for the group, please?”
• “I think I missed that—can you say it one more time?”
• “Can you go over that once more? I want to make sure I understood.”

✅ Example: “Could you repeat your last sentence? I think there was a bit of noise on the line.”

If You Do Not Ask Someone Politely 

Failing to ask for repetition politely can lead to negative impressions and communication problems. Here’s what can happen:

• You might appear rude or impatient, even if that wasn’t your intention.
• The speaker may feel disrespected, especially in professional or formal settings.
• It can create tension or awkwardness in the conversation.
• You may still misunderstand the message, which can lead to errors, delays, or confusion.

Being direct is okay—but being respectful is essential. Using a polite tone keeps communication open and professional, especially when working across cultures or with people you don’t know well.

Ask Someone to Repeat Themselves

When you ask someone to repeat themselves using English politely, it shows you’re engaged, respectful, and serious about understanding clearly. It improves your conversations and helps avoid costly misunderstandings.

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