Ask an Interviewer to Repeat or Rephrase in Portuguese — Practice

Ask for repetition when you missed the words

Pode repetir a pergunta, por favor? is a clear, polite request to repeat the question. If the interviewer spoke quickly, you can say um pouco mais devagar (a little more slowly). These requests are normal communication tools, not admissions that you cannot do the job.

Listen for the main noun or verb in the repeated question. You do not need to catch every small word to understand what the interviewer is asking.

Ask for a simpler rephrasing

When you heard the words but not the meaning, ask Poderia reformular a pergunta? (Could you rephrase the question?). You can also check one term: Quando você diz prioridade, está falando do prazo ou do impacto? (When you say priority, do you mean the deadline or the impact?).

Repeating your understanding lets the interviewer confirm or correct it before you answer.

Take a moment before answering

After you understand, say Entendi. Vou pensar por um instante (I understand. I'll think for a moment). A short pause helps you choose an example rather than starting before you know what you want to say.

If only one part is unclear, clarify that part and then answer the question directly. This keeps the conversation moving.

Remember: Use repeat for missed words, rephrase for unclear meaning, and confirm your understanding before answering.

Check your understanding

Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.

Recall the Portuguese, then say it

Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.

1. Could you repeat the last part, please?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Pode repetir a última parte, por favor?

2. Could you speak a little more slowly?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Você poderia falar um pouco mais devagar?

3. Could you rephrase the question in other words?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Poderia reformular a pergunta com outras palavras?

4. Just to confirm: you want to know how I organize deadlines?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Só para confirmar: você quer saber como eu organizo prazos?

5. I understand. I'll organize my answer and explain in a moment.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Entendi. Vou organizar a resposta e já explico.

6. Would you like an example from a recent project?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Você gostaria de um exemplo de um projeto recente?

Make the phrase useful to you

Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.

Use repeat for missed words, rephrase for unclear meaning, and confirm your understanding before answering.

Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.

Sources and your next lesson

This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our Ask an Interviewer to Repeat or Rephrase in Portuguese lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.

To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.