Portuguese Phrases to Ask Someone to Repeat, Explain, or Spell a Word — Practice

Ask someone to repeat a word or sentence

When you miss something, ask Pode repetir, por favor? (Could you repeat, please?) or Como? (Sorry? / What?). If one specific word was unclear, name it: Não entendi a última palavra (I didn’t understand the last word). These requests are useful in class, a shop, a meeting, and casual conversation.

You do not need to apologize at length. A calm request and a polite tone show the speaker what would help. Repeating a short section is often more effective than asking them to start the entire conversation again.

Request a slower pace or a different explanation

If you understand some words but not the whole sentence, ask Pode falar mais devagar? (Could you speak more slowly?) or Pode explicar de outro jeito? (Could you explain it another way?). You can also repeat what you understood and identify the part you need help with.

People often respond more helpfully when they know whether to slow down, simplify, or give an example. Ask for the kind of support you need rather than saying only that your Portuguese is not good.

Ask how to spell a name, place, or email

For a name, address, or email, ask Pode soletrar? (Could you spell it?). Then repeat the letters or write them down and confirm. Portuguese letter names differ from English, so spelling a proper noun one letter at a time can prevent a misunderstanding.

Numbers and street names are especially worth confirming. If you are using a phone or booking a service, ask the person to send the exact information in a message when that is possible.

Repeat the key detail to check your understanding

A confirmation phrase helps you verify what you heard: Então, é na Rua Central? (So, it is on Central Street?). Use só para confirmar (just to confirm) before repeating the detail. The other person can correct you immediately, which is easier than discovering the mistake later.

Practice one clarification question for names, one for numbers, and one for meaning. This creates a small toolkit you can retrieve when a conversation becomes difficult. Real Life Portuguese provides phrase guides for travel and work; I Speak Portuguese teachers can help you practice asking follow-up questions aloud.

Remember: Choose the repair you need: repeat, slow down, explain another way, spell it, or confirm a detail. Specific questions make conversations easier to recover.

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. Sorry, could you repeat the street name?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Desculpe, pode repetir o nome da rua?

2. I didn’t understand the last word.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Não entendi a última palavra.

3. Sorry? Could you repeat that?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Como? Você pode repetir?

4. Could you speak a little more slowly, please?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Pode falar um pouco mais devagar, por favor?

5. Can you explain with an example?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Você pode explicar com um exemplo?

6. Could you say that another way?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Pode dizer isso de outro jeito?

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.

Choose the repair you need: repeat, slow down, explain another way, spell it, or confirm a detail. Specific questions make conversations easier to recover.

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 Portuguese Phrases to Ask Someone to Repeat, Explain, or Spell a Word 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.