Welcome! This lesson helps you stay calm and clear when conversations get messy. Practice quick phrases to ask for repeats, clarify meaning, and try again.
Level A2: In this short lesson you'll learn practical repair phrases—how to ask someone to repeat, ask for spelling or examples, signal partial understanding, and correct yourself. These CEFR-aligned chunks help you keep conversations moving smoothly when you miss a detail or need a simpler explanation.
After this lesson you'll be able to:
Recognize and use basic repair phrases in everyday conversations (Level A2).
Ask someone to repeat, write, or spell information politely.
Signal partial understanding and reformulate or retry what you want to say.
Ready? Let's go!
When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.
1. Reading + Listening Practice
Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.
Perdón, ¿puedes repetir eso?
Sorry, can you repeat that?
Meaning: Sorry, can you repeat that?
When to use: Use when you didn't hear or missed what someone said.
Perdón, ¿puedes repetir eso? No escuché la hora.
Sorry, can you repeat that? I didn't hear the time.
Perdón, ¿puedes repetir eso? Mi conexión falló.
Sorry, can you repeat that? My connection dropped.
No alcancé a entender eso.
I didn't catch that.
Meaning: I didn't catch that.
When to use: Say this when you didn't hear or fully understand a detail.
No alcancé a entender eso cuando hablaste rápido.
I didn't catch that when you spoke quickly.
Lo siento, no alcancé a entender eso. ¿Puedes repetir?
Sorry, I didn't catch that. Can you repeat?
¿Puedes escribirlo, por favor?
Can you write it down, please?
Meaning: Can you write it down, please?
When to use: Ask someone to write important information (address, time, link).
¿Puedes escribirlo, por favor? Así lo guardo.
Can you write it down, please? I will save it.
Si es una dirección, ¿puedes escribirlo, por favor?
If it's an address, can you write it down, please?
No estoy seguro de entender.
I'm not sure I understand.
Meaning: I'm not sure I understand.
When to use: Use this to signal that you're unclear about the meaning.
No estoy seguro de entender los pasos que explicaste.
I'm not sure I understand the steps you explained.
No estoy seguro de entender lo que quieres decir con eso.
I'm not sure I understand what you mean by that.
¿Puedes explicarlo más fácil?
Can you explain it more simply?
Meaning: Can you explain it more simply?
When to use: Ask for a simpler explanation when something is too complicated.
¿Puedes explicarlo más fácil? No conozco ese vocabulario.
Can you explain it more simply? I don't know that vocabulary.
Si es técnico, ¿puedes explicarlo más fácil, por favor?
If it's technical, can you explain it more simply, please?
No sé cómo se dice ___.
I don't know the word for ___.
Meaning: I don't know the word for ___.
When to use: Use this to signal you need help with a specific word.
Tip: Many learners say 'no sé la palabra para...' — it's understandable, but 'No sé cómo se dice...' sounds more natural here.
No sé cómo se dice 'receipt' en español.
I don't know how to say 'receipt' in Spanish.
No sé cómo se dice 'to upload' en español.
I don't know how to say 'to upload' in Spanish.
¿Puedes deletrearlo, por favor?
Can you spell that, please?
Meaning: Can you spell that, please?
When to use: Ask for spelling when a name or word is unclear.
¿Puedes deletrearlo, por favor? Es un nombre complicado.
Can you spell that, please? It's a complicated name.
Si es tu email, ¿puedes deletrearlo, por favor?
If it's your email, can you spell it, please?
¿Me puedes dar un ejemplo?
Can you give me an example?
Meaning: Can you give me an example?
When to use: Ask for an example to make meaning clearer.
¿Me puedes dar un ejemplo para entender mejor?
Can you give me an example to understand better?
Si no entiendo, ¿me puedes dar un ejemplo práctico?
If I don't understand, can you give me a practical example?
¿Entendí bien?
Did I understand correctly?
Meaning: Did I understand correctly?
When to use: Use this to confirm your understanding of a point.
¿Entendí bien que la cita es mañana a las diez?
Did I understand correctly that the appointment is tomorrow at ten?
¿Entendí bien que debo traer mi pasaporte?
Did I understand correctly that I should bring my passport?
Solo entendí una parte.
I only understood part of that.
Meaning: I only understood part of that.
When to use: Use to show you caught something but not everything; invites clarification.
Solo entendí una parte; ¿puedes explicar la otra parte?
I only understood part of it; can you explain the other part?
Solo entendí una parte de las instrucciones, ¿puedes repetir el resto?
I only understood part of the instructions; can you repeat the rest?
¿Lo puedo decir de otra forma?
Can I say it another way?
Meaning: Can I say it another way?
When to use: Ask permission to rephrase your idea if the first attempt failed.
¿Lo puedo decir de otra forma? Tal vez así sea más claro.
Can I say it another way? Maybe this will be clearer.
Si no se entiende, ¿lo puedo decir de otra forma?
If it's not understood, can I say it another way?
Déjame intentar otra vez.
Let me try again.
Meaning: Let me try again.
When to use: Use to restart after a communication problem.
Déjame intentar otra vez; creo que puedo decirlo mejor.
Let me try again; I think I can say it better.
Perdón, déjame intentar otra vez.
Sorry, let me try again.
No ___, sino ___.
Not ___, but ___.
Meaning: Not ___, but ___.
When to use: Use this to replace an incorrect word or detail with the correct one.
Tip: Learners sometimes use 'pero' instead of 'sino'. Use 'sino' after a negative clause (No ...), then the correction.
No es lunes, sino martes.
Not Monday, but Tuesday.
No dije 'mañana', sino 'la próxima semana'.
Not 'tomorrow', but 'next week'.
2. Conversational Listening Practice
Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.
Anna doesn't catch a time and asks David to write it down and spell a word.
What does Anna ask David to do after she misses part of the information?
Anna
Perdón, ¿puedes repetir eso?
Sorry, can you repeat that?
David
Claro. Dije que la presentación empieza a las tres.
Sure. I said the presentation starts at three.
Anna
Solo entendí una parte. ¿Puedes escribirlo, por favor?
I only understood part of that. Can you write it down, please?
David
Sí, te lo escribo. ¿Entendí bien si digo 'presentación'?
Yes, I'll write it. Did I understand correctly if I say 'presentación'?
Anna
No sé cómo se dice 'slides' en español.
I don't know how to say 'slides' in Spanish.
David
Se dice 'diapositiva'. ¿Puedes deletrearlo, por favor?
It's 'diapositiva'. Can you spell it, please?
Anna
D-i-a-p-o-s-i-t-i-v-a. Gracias, déjame intentar otra vez.
D-i-a-p-o-s-i-t-i-v-a. Thanks, let me try again.
3. Guided Practice
Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.
Which Spanish phrase asks someone to write information down?
Which phrase means 'I didn't catch that'?
Which phrase asks for a simpler explanation?
Which structure do you use to replace a wrong word with the correct one?
I didn't hear the time. Sorry, can you repeat that?, please.
I didn't hear the time. ____, please.
I can't remember the word for 'invoice'. I don't know the word for ___?
I can't remember the word for 'invoice'. ___?
I only heard some of the instructions. I only understood part of that.
I only heard some of the instructions. ____
Match the core phrases
Match the extra phrases
4. Speaking Practice
Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).
Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.
