Phrases for When You Don’t Understand Something in English

Communication can be challenging, especially when learning a new language. If you’re in a conversation and struggling to understand, knowing the right phrases for when you don’t understand can help you stay engaged, ask for clarification, and avoid miscommunication.

In this guide, we’ll cover polite and professional phrases for when you don’t understand in different situations—whether you’re at work, in class, or talking with friends. 

How to Respond When You Don’t Know the Answer to a Question

Why It’s Important to Ask for Clarification

When you don’t understand something, asking for clarification helps:

✅ Avoid confusion and mistakes.
✅ Show that you’re actively listening.
✅ Improve your English by learning from the response.
✅ Keep conversations flowing smoothly.

Instead of pretending to understand or staying silent, use these helpful phrases to ask for explanations in a polite and professional way.

How To Respond to Questions Effectively

Phrases for When You Don’t Understand in General Conversations

These phrases are useful in everyday conversations when you need clarification:

• “Sorry, I didn’t catch that. Could you say it again?”

• “I’m not sure I understand. Could you explain that differently?”

• “Could you repeat that, please?”

• “I didn’t quite get that. What do you mean?”

• “I’m a little confused. Could you clarify?”

Example:
Friend: “We should meet at the usual place around seven.”
You: “Sorry, I didn’t catch that. Where should we meet?”

Phrases for When You Don’t Understand in a Professional Setting

In work situations, you might need to ask a colleague or manager to repeat or clarify something. Use these polite and professional phrases:

• “Could you clarify that point for me, please?”

• “I want to make sure I understand correctly. Could you explain it again?”

• “I didn’t quite follow. Could you go over that once more?”

• “Would you mind explaining that in a bit more detail?”

• “Just to confirm, do you mean [repeat what you understood]?”

Example:
Manager: “I need the report finalized with all updates by EOD.”
You: “Would you mind explaining what you mean by EOD? Do you mean by 5 PM?”

Phrases for When You Don’t Understand in a Meeting

If you’re in a meeting and something is unclear, here are ways to ask for more information without interrupting the flow:

• “Sorry, could you elaborate on that last point?”

• “Just to clarify, are you saying that [rephrase what you understood]?”

• “I didn’t quite follow that. Could you break it down a bit more?”

• “Could you provide an example to help me understand better?”

• “I want to make sure I got that right. Could you repeat it another way?”

Example:
Presenter: “The Q4 projections indicate a shift in market trends.”
You: “I didn’t quite follow. Could you provide an example of what that means?”

Phrases for When You Don’t Understand a Word or Phrase

If you don’t understand a specific word, these phrases can help:

• “What does [word] mean?”

• “I’ve never heard that word before. Could you explain it?”

• “Could you give me another word for [word]?”

• “Could you spell that out for me?”

• “How do you pronounce that?”

Example:
Speaker: “The new system is more intuitive.”
You: “I’ve never heard that word before. What does ‘intuitive’ mean?”

Phrases for When You Don’t Understand Someone’s Accent or Speed

Sometimes, the way someone speaks—whether due to their accent or speed—can make understanding difficult. Use these phrases to ask them to slow down or repeat:

• “I’m sorry, I’m having trouble understanding. Could you speak a little slower?”

• “Could you repeat that more slowly, please?”

• “I didn’t catch that. Could you say it again?”

• “I’m not used to this accent. Could you speak a bit more clearly?”

• “Would you mind slowing down just a little?”

Example:
Fast speaker: “So, what we’re gonna do is move everything over to the new system ASAP.”
You: “Sorry, could you slow down a little? I want to make sure I understand.”

Guide To Understanding Different Types Of Accents

Phrases for When You Don’t Understand in an Email or Text

When you receive a written message that is unclear, you can reply with these polite phrases:

• “Could you clarify what you mean by [unclear part]?”

• “I just want to confirm—are you saying that [restate what you understood]?”

• “I’m not sure I understand. Could you explain in more detail?”

• “Could you provide an example?”

• “Just to make sure we’re on the same page, do you mean [restate]?”

Example:
Email from a colleague: “Let’s meet at the usual time.”
Your response: “Could you clarify what time you mean by ‘usual’?”

How to Write Professional Emails in English

What to Do When You Still Don’t Understand

If you’ve asked for clarification but still don’t understand, try these steps:

1. Ask for an example – “Could you give an example to help me understand?”

2. Ask someone else for help – “Maybe someone else could explain it differently?”

3. Write it down – Sometimes seeing words written can help.

4. Take your time – Don’t feel pressured to understand immediately.

5. Look it up later – If it’s not urgent, check online resources for more information.

Final Thoughts

Using polite and clear phrases for when you don’t understand will help you communicate effectively, ask for help without embarrassment, and improve your English skills.

If you want to boost your confidence in English conversations, sign up with Learn Laugh Speak today!