Spanish - Asking for Clarification

Lesson 7 of 159

Student learning Spanish clarification phrases on a phone, practicing ways to ask 'Can you repeat that?' and 'No entiendo.'

Goal: Simple phrases to ask people to repeat, slow down, or explain

Free Spanish lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Quick and friendly — today we practice short phrases that help when you don't understand. Say them aloud, listen to the mini-dialogue, then try the exercises.

Level A1: In this lesson you'll learn key clarification phrases in Spanish: how to say you don't understand, ask someone to repeat or slow down, ask for meanings or spelling, and request simpler words. This CEFR-aligned practice focuses on real, polite ways to keep a conversation clear.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Learn 13 short clarification phrases (A1) for everyday conversations.
  • Practice asking someone to repeat, slow down, spell, or explain words.
  • Be able to check meaning and request simpler words politely.
Two people in a cafe using short Spanish phrases to ask for repetition and clarification.

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.

No entiendo.

I don't understand.

Meaning: I don't understand.

When to use: Say this when you do not understand what someone said or explained.

Tip: Beginners sometimes drop 'no' and say 'entiendo' by mistake; be sure to include 'no'.

Lo siento, no entiendo.
Sorry, I don't understand.
No entiendo la pregunta.
I don't understand the question.

¿Puedes repetirlo?

Can you repeat that?

Meaning: Can you repeat that?

When to use: Use this to ask someone to say something again. Add 'por favor' to be extra polite.

Perdón, ¿puedes repetirlo, por favor?
Excuse me, can you repeat it, please?
No escuché bien. ¿Puedes repetirlo?
I didn't hear well. Can you repeat it?

¿Puedes hablar más despacio?

Can you speak more slowly?

Meaning: Can you speak more slowly?

When to use: Ask this when someone is talking too fast for you to follow.

Tip: Don't move 'más' after 'despacio' — the natural order is 'más despacio'.

Hablas muy rápido. ¿Puedes hablar más despacio?
You speak very fast. Can you speak more slowly?
Por favor, ¿puedes hablar más despacio?
Please, can you speak more slowly?

¿Qué significa ___?

What does ___ mean?

Meaning: What does ___ mean?

When to use: Use this frame when you need the meaning of a specific word or phrase.

¿Qué significa 'entrada'?
What does 'entrada' mean?
Disculpa, ¿qué significa esa palabra?
Excuse me, what does that word mean?

¿Cómo se dice ___ en inglés?

How do you say ___ in English?

Meaning: How do you say ___ in English?

When to use: Ask this when you want to know the English word for a Spanish word or phrase.

¿Cómo se dice 'bicicleta' en inglés?
How do you say 'bicicleta' in English?
No sé la palabra. ¿Cómo se dice 'calle' en inglés?
I don't know the word. How do you say 'calle' in English?

¿Lo puedes escribir?

Can you write it down?

Meaning: Can you write it down?

When to use: Use this when you prefer to see the word or information on paper or a screen.

No lo entiendo. ¿Lo puedes escribir?
I don't understand it. Can you write it down?
¿Lo puedes escribir en la libreta, por favor?
Can you write it in the notebook, please?

¿Es ___ o ___?

Is it ___ or ___?

Meaning: Is it ___ or ___?

When to use: Use this to check which of two options is correct (two words, letters or answers).

¿Es 'b' o 'v'?
Is it 'b' or 'v'?
¿Es 'lunes' o 'martes'?
Is it 'Monday' or 'Tuesday'?

¿Quieres decir ___?

Do you mean ___?

Meaning: Do you mean ___?

When to use: Use this to check you understood someone correctly by repeating what you think they meant.

¿Quieres decir la entrada o la salida?
Do you mean the entrance or the exit?
¿Quieres decir que vienes mañana?
Do you mean you are coming tomorrow?

Usa palabras sencillas, por favor.

Please use simple words.

Meaning: Please use simple words.

When to use: Ask someone to use easier vocabulary when you are learning or confused.

No soy experto. Usa palabras sencillas, por favor.
I'm not an expert. Please use simple words.
Si puedes, usa palabras sencillas, por favor.
If you can, please use simple words.

Solo entiendo un poco.

I only understand a little.

Meaning: I only understand a little.

When to use: Say this to indicate you have partial understanding and may need help.

Solo entiendo un poco, ¿puedes repetirlo?
I only understand a little, can you repeat it?
Gracias, solo entiendo un poco.
Thanks, I only understand a little.

No conozco esa palabra.

I don't know that word.

Meaning: I don't know that word.

When to use: Use this to tell someone a particular word is unknown to you.

No conozco esa palabra. ¿Qué es?
I don't know that word. What is it?
Perdón, no conozco esa palabra.
Sorry, I don't know that word.

¿Me puedes explicar ___ ?

Can you explain ___?

Meaning: Can you explain ___?

When to use: Ask for a short explanation of a word, phrase, or idea.

¿Me puedes explicar esta frase?
Can you explain this sentence to me?
No entiendo el concepto. ¿Me puedes explicar, por favor?
I don't understand the concept. Can you explain it, please?

¿Me lo puedes deletrear?

Can you spell that?

Meaning: Can you spell that?

When to use: Use this to ask someone to spell a word so you can write or recognize it.

Perdón, ¿me lo puedes deletrear?
Excuse me, can you spell it for me?
¿Me lo puedes deletrear para escribirlo correcto?
Can you spell it for me so I write it correctly?

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna and David in a small classroom asking for clarification during a short explanation.

Anna and David in a conversation where Anna asks for clarification and David repeats and explains.

What are Anna and David asking for?

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

No entiendo.

I don't understand.

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

¿Puedes repetirlo?

Can you repeat that?

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

¿Puedes hablar más despacio?

Can you speak more slowly?

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

Claro. ¿Qué significa 'tarifa'?

Sure. What does 'tarifa' mean?

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

Solo entiendo un poco. ¿Me lo puedes deletrear?

I only understand a little. Can you spell it for me?

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

How do you ask someone to repeat what they said?

Which phrase says you understand only a little?

How do you ask someone to write something down?

Which asks someone to speak more slowly?

The guide speaks very fast. — Can you speak more slowly?

El guía habla muy rápido. — ___

I see the word 'avión' on the menu. — What does 'avión' mean?

Veo la palabra 'avión' en el menú. — ¿Qué significa ___?

I don't know how to write the address. — Can you write it down, please?

No sé cómo escribir la dirección. — ___, por favor.

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.

Say this phrase out loud:

No entiendo.

I don't understand.

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Puedes repetirlo?

Can you repeat that?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Puedes hablar más despacio?

Can you speak more slowly?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Qué significa ___?

What does ___ mean?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Cómo se dice ___ en inglés?

How do you say ___ in English?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Lo puedes escribir?

Can you write it down?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Es ___ o ___?

Is it ___ or ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Quieres decir ___?

Do you mean ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

Usa palabras sencillas, por favor.

Please use simple words.

Say this phrase out loud:

Solo entiendo un poco.

I only understand a little.

Say this phrase out loud:

No conozco esa palabra.

I don't know that word.

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Me puedes explicar ___ ?

Can you explain ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Me lo puedes deletrear?

Can you spell that?