Short and practical: today we practice simple phrases that help you ask for clarification. Speak them aloud, listen to the mini-dialogue, and try the quick exercises.
Level A1: In this lesson you'll learn common clarification phrases for everyday situations — asking someone to say things another way, checking a word, confirming an item, and saying you can't hear. These short, polite chunks help you keep conversations clear. (CEFR-aligned language learning.)
After this lesson you'll be able to:
Recognize and use eight basic clarification phrases in Spanish.
Ask someone to repeat or rephrase, confirm words, and check items.
Practice listening and speaking these phrases in simple dialogues (Level A1).
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.
¿Lo puedes decir de otra forma?
Can you say it another way?
Meaning: Can you say it another way?
When to use: Use when you don't understand the phrasing and want a different explanation.
No entiendo esta frase. ¿Lo puedes decir de otra forma?
I don't understand this sentence. Can you say it another way?
Si es muy técnico, ¿lo puedes decir de otra forma para mí?
If it's very technical, can you say it another way for me?
¿Cuál?
Which one?
Meaning: Which one?
When to use: Use when options are visible or understood and you need to know which item is meant.
Hay dos pasteles: ¿Cuál quieres?
There are two cakes: Which one do you want?
Veo dos puertas. ¿Cuál es la entrada?
I see two doors. Which one is the entrance?
¿Así?
Like this?
Meaning: Like this?
When to use: Use while demonstrating an action, gesture, or example and asking for confirmation.
Si giro aquí, ¿así?
If I turn here, like this?
¿Tengo que apretar este botón, así?
Do I have to press this button, like this?
¿Está bien?
Is this correct?
Meaning: Is this correct?
When to use: Use to check if something you did or understood is acceptable or correct.
He escrito la dirección. ¿Está bien?
I wrote the address. Is this correct?
Hice la reserva para dos personas. ¿Está bien?
I made the reservation for two people. Is that okay?
¿Qué palabra es esta?
What is this word?
Meaning: What is this word?
When to use: Use when you see a written word and want to know what it is (name or form).
Tip: Beginners sometimes say "¿Qué significa esta palabra?" when they mean the single word form — both are okay but slightly different: one asks literally "which word is this?"
No conozco esta palabra. ¿Qué palabra es esta?
I don't know this word. What is this word?
En el menú hay una palabra nueva. ¿Qué palabra es esta?
There's a new word on the menu. What is this word?
No te escucho.
I can't hear you.
Meaning: I can't hear you.
When to use: Use when the speaker is too quiet or there is background noise.
Perdón, no te escucho — ¿puedes repetir?
Sorry, I can't hear you — can you repeat?
La conexión es mala; no te escucho bien.
The connection is bad; I can't hear you well.
¿Dijiste ___ ?
You said ___?
Meaning: You said ___?
When to use: Use to check if you heard a particular word or phrase correctly.
Tip: Beginners sometimes forget the past tense form and say "¿Dices...?" — use "¿Dijiste...?" to confirm what was said.
¿Dijiste 'mañana'?
You said 'tomorrow'?
Perdón, ¿dijiste 'tres' o 'seis'?
Sorry, did you say 'three' or 'six'?
¿Este?
This one?
Meaning: This one?
When to use: Point to a specific object and ask if that is the one meant (masculine form).
Tip: Make sure gender matches the noun: use "¿Esta?" for feminine nouns and "¿Esto?" when the object is neutral or unknown.
¿Este es el libro que buscas?
Is this the book you're looking for?
Si señalas la taza: ¿Este?
If you point to the cup: This one?
2. Conversational Listening Practice
Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.
Anna asks David to repeat and confirm information about a meeting time.
What does Anna ask David to do when she can't hear him?
Anna
Perdón, no te escucho.
Sorry, I can't hear you.
David
La reunión es el jueves a las cuatro.
The meeting is Thursday at four.
Anna
¿Lo puedes decir de otra forma?
Can you say it another way?
David
Claro: es el jueves por la tarde a las cuatro.
Sure: it's Thursday afternoon at four.
Anna
¿Dijiste 'jueves'?
You said 'Thursday'?
David
Sí. ¿Está bien?
Yes. Is that okay?
3. Guided Practice
Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.
You're on a noisy street and can't hear the speaker. What do you say?
You didn't understand the phrasing and want a different explanation. Which phrase fits?
You point at a hat and want to confirm that hat specifically. What do you ask?
You heard a word but unsure which you heard. Which phrase asks to confirm what was said?
On the call there's a lot of noise. You say: 'I can't hear you.'
En la llamada hay mucho ruido. Dices: "___".
I heard a word but I'm not sure. You ask: 'You said 'tomorrow'?'
Oí una palabra pero no estoy seguro. Preguntas: "___ 'mañana'?"
You see two cups and point to one: 'This one?'
Ves dos tazas y señalas una: "___?"
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.
