French - Conversation Repair

Pardon, tu peux répéter ?

Sorry, can you repeat that?

Meaning: Sorry, can you repeat that?

When to use: Use this to ask someone to say something again when you didn't hear or missed it.

J'ai pas bien compris.

I didn't catch that.

Meaning: I didn't catch that.

When to use: Say this when you heard something but didn't understand it fully.

Tip: Some learners worry about the missing 'ne'—the contracted spoken form is perfectly fine in conversation.

Tu peux l'écrire, s'il te plaît ?

Can you write it down, please?

Meaning: Can you write it down, please?

When to use: Ask this when a number, address, or detail would be easier to understand in writing.

Je suis pas sûr de comprendre.

I'm not sure I understand.

Meaning: I'm not sure I understand.

When to use: Use this to gently say your understanding is uncertain and invite more explanation.

Tip: Remember the feminine form sûre only matters in writing if the speaker is female; in speech it's the same.

Tu peux expliquer plus simplement ?

Can you explain it more simply?

Meaning: Can you explain it more simply?

When to use: Ask for a simpler explanation when a concept or word is too complex.

Je sais pas comment on dit ___.

I don't know the word for ___.

Meaning: I don't know the word for ___.

When to use: Use this when you need help finding a specific word (then point or describe it).

Tip: Learners sometimes include 'ne' but the short spoken form without 'ne' is very common and natural.

Tu peux l'épeler, s'il te plaît ?

Can you spell that, please?

Meaning: Can you spell that, please?

When to use: Ask this when a name or word is unclear and you need the exact spelling.

Tu peux me donner un exemple ?

Can you give me an example?

Meaning: Can you give me an example?

When to use: Use this to ask for an example that makes a meaning clearer.

J'ai bien compris ?

Did I understand correctly?

Meaning: Did I understand correctly?

When to use: Use this short question to check whether what you understood is correct.

Je n'ai compris qu'une partie.

I only understood part of that.

Meaning: I only understood part of that.

When to use: Say this when you need someone to repeat or clarify the section you missed.

Je peux le dire autrement ?

Can I say it another way?

Meaning: Can I say it another way?

When to use: Use this when you want to reformulate your sentence to be clearer.

Je recommence.

Let me try again.

Meaning: Let me try again.

When to use: Use this to restart after a mistake or failed explanation.

Pas ___, mais ___.

Not ___, but ___.

Meaning: Not ___, but ___.

When to use: Use this to correct a mistaken word or number by giving the wrong item first, then the correct one.

Tip: Keep the order: say the wrong item first, then the correct one to avoid confusion.