Welcome — ready to untangle tricky conversations? This short lesson helps you recover when you didn't hear or understand something. Listen, practice, then say the phrases out loud.
Level A2: In this lesson you'll practice helpful Spanish phrases for fixing problems in conversation — asking people to repeat, clarifying meanings, and saying you didn't hear. CEFR-aligned and focused on real situations like calls and quick clarifications. By the end you'll be more confident asking for repetition, volume, or meaning.
After this lesson you'll be able to:
Recognize and use common conversation-repair phrases at level A2.
Ask someone to repeat, speak louder, or clarify a word or idea.
Practice saying each phrase aloud to build smooth, polite communication.
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.
Eso no es lo que quise decir.
That's not what I meant.
Meaning: That's not what I meant.
When to use: Use this when the other person has misunderstood your intention and you want to correct them gently.
Tip: Beginners sometimes drop 'eso' and say 'No es lo que quise decir', which can sound abrupt. Keep 'eso' to point to the misunderstanding.
No, eso no es lo que quise decir; quería apoyar la idea, no criticarla.
That's not what I meant; I wanted to support the idea, not criticize it.
Perdón, creo que me expresé mal: eso no es lo que quise decir.
Sorry, I think I expressed myself poorly: that's not what I meant.
Corrígeme si me equivoco, por favor.
Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Meaning: Please correct me if I'm wrong.
When to use: Use this to invite correction when you are unsure about vocabulary, facts, or grammar and want help.
Corrígeme si me equivoco, por favor: ¿la reunión es mañana a las diez?
Correct me if I'm wrong, please: is the meeting tomorrow at ten?
Estoy practicando español, corrígeme si me equivoco, por favor.
I'm practicing Spanish — please correct me if I'm wrong.
Corrígeme si me equivoco, por favor: ¿esto significa 'to sign up'?
Please correct me if I'm wrong: does this mean 'to sign up'?
¿Puedes hablar un poco más fuerte?
Can you speak up a little?
Meaning: Can you speak up a little?
When to use: Ask this when the speaker is too quiet or there's background noise and you need them to raise their volume.
¿Puedes hablar un poco más fuerte? No te escucho bien con el ruido aquí.
Can you speak up a little? I can't hear you well with the noise here.
Perdón, ¿puedes hablar un poco más fuerte? Mi micrófono está bajo.
Sorry, can you speak a bit louder? My microphone is low.
No te escucho bien.
I can't hear you well.
Meaning: I can't hear you well.
When to use: Use this to tell someone their audio is unclear — on calls, video chats, or in noisy places.
No te escucho bien; ¿puedes repetir la última parte?
I can't hear you well; can you repeat the last part?
Lo siento, no te escucho bien en este momento. ¿Puedes escribirlo en el chat?
Sorry, I can't hear you well right now. Can you write it in the chat?
La conexión está fallando.
The connection is bad.
Meaning: The connection is bad.
When to use: Say this when technical problems (internet, call) are causing audio or video issues.
La conexión está fallando; se corta la voz cada pocos segundos.
The connection is failing; the voice cuts out every few seconds.
¿Puedes colgar y volver a entrar? La conexión está fallando de mi lado.
Can you hang up and rejoin? The connection is failing on my side.
No alcancé a escuchar la última parte.
I missed the last part.
Meaning: I missed the last part.
When to use: Use this when you didn't hear or understand only the end of what the speaker said and want them to repeat that portion.
Perdón, no alcancé a escuchar la última parte. ¿Puedes repetirla?
Sorry, I missed the last part. Can you repeat it?
No alcancé a escuchar la última parte por un momento; ¿qué dijiste al final?
I missed the last part for a moment; what did you say at the end?
¿Cuál fue la última palabra?
What was the last word?
Meaning: What was the last word?
When to use: Ask this when you only need the speaker to repeat one single unclear word.
¿Cuál fue la última palabra? No la escuché bien.
What was the last word? I didn't hear it well.
Disculpa, ¿cuál fue la última palabra de la frase?
Excuse me, what was the last word of the sentence?
¿Qué quieres decir con ___?
What do you mean by ___?
Meaning: What do you mean by ___?
When to use: Use this to ask for the specific meaning of a word or phrase the speaker used.
Tip: Some learners forget the 'con' and say '¿Qué quieres decir ___?' — include 'con' to make the question natural.
¿Qué quieres decir con 'ajustar el plan'?
What do you mean by 'adjust the plan'?
No entiendo la palabra 'optimizar'; ¿qué quieres decir con eso?
I don't understand the word 'optimize'; what do you mean by that?
Me confunde ___.
I'm confused about ___.
Meaning: I'm confused about ___.
When to use: Use this to point out the specific part or idea that is unclear to you.
Tip: Beginners sometimes say 'Me confunde a mí' — it's usually enough to say 'Me confunde...' or the softer 'No me queda claro...'.
Me confunde la parte del horario; ¿puedes explicarla otra vez?
I'm confused about the schedule part; can you explain it again?
Me confunde cómo se pagan las cuotas; ¿puedes dar un ejemplo?
I'm confused about how the fees are paid; can you give an example?
¿Esta es la palabra correcta?
Is this the right word?
Meaning: Is this the right word?
When to use: Use this to check whether the vocabulary you chose fits the meaning the speaker intends.
¿Esta es la palabra correcta: 'reunión' o debería decir 'encuentro'?
Is this the right word: 'reunión' or should I say 'encuentro'?
¿Esta es la palabra correcta para 'to apply' en este contexto?
Is this the right word for 'to apply' in this context?
¿A cuál te refieres?
Which one do you mean?
Meaning: Which one do you mean?
When to use: Ask this when the speaker mentions a person or thing and it's unclear which specific one they mean.
¿A cuál te refieres: al documento viejo o al nuevo?
Which one do you mean: the old document or the new one?
Dijiste 'el jefe' — ¿a cuál te refieres?
You said 'the boss' — which one do you mean?
Perdón, te perdí un momento.
Sorry, I lost you for a moment.
Meaning: Sorry, I lost you for a moment.
When to use: Use this in calls when the audio dropped or you stopped following for a short time and need the speaker to continue or repeat.
Perdón, te perdí un momento; ¿puedes repetir la última idea?
Sorry, I lost you for a moment; can you repeat the last idea?
La señal cortó; perdón, te perdí un momento. ¿Dónde íbamos?
The signal cut out; sorry, I lost you for a moment. Where were we?
2. Conversational Listening Practice
Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.
Phone call where sound cuts and one speaker asks for clarification
Why does Anna ask David to repeat or speak louder?
Anna
Hola David, te escucho con eco. No te escucho bien.
Hi David, I hear an echo. I can't hear you well.
David
Perdón, la conexión está fallando. ¿Puedes hablar un poco más fuerte?
Sorry, the connection is failing. Can you speak a bit louder?
Anna
Así mejor. ¿Cuál fue la última palabra sobre el informe?
That's better. What was the last word about the report?
David
Quise decir 'entregable'.
I meant 'deliverable'.
Anna
¿Qué quieres decir con 'entregable' exactamente?
What do you mean by 'deliverable' exactly?
David
Perdón, te perdí un momento — la conexión cortó. Lo repito: es un documento final.
Sorry, I lost you for a moment — the connection cut out. I'll repeat: it's a final document.
3. Guided Practice
Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.
Which phrase asks someone to speak louder?
You missed only the ending of someone's sentence. Which phrase fits?
You want the speaker to tell you if your statement is wrong. Which phrase should you use?
Which phrase politely points out a technical problem with audio?
On the video call: —Sorry, I lost you for a moment. Can you repeat the previous part?
En la videollamada: —Perdón, ___ ¿puedes repetir la parte anterior?
I didn't catch a word of that sentence. —What was the last word?
No entendí una palabra de esa frase. —¿___?
After the confusing explanation, Anna says: —I'm confused about the point about the schedule.
Después de la explicación confusa, Anna dice: —___ el punto sobre el horario.
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.
