What to Say When You Don't Understand Someone in Spanish

"No entiendo" (I don't understand) is the first rescue phrase most of us learn, and it has a problem: it doesn't tell the other person what to do next. Did you miss one word? Everything? Were they too fast? Often they'll just repeat the same sentence, at the same speed, a bit louder. Or they'll switch to English.

The phrases below each ask for something specific: repeat, slow down, explain one word, confirm a detail. Specific requests get specific help. They also show that you're following the conversation, which keeps it in Spanish.

Learn them as whole chunks. You won't have time to build these from grammar when your heart rate is up, so the goal is for them to come out on autopilot.

The quickest ones first: "¿Perdón?" (Sorry?) and "¿Cómo?" (Come again?). Both are polite and work in every Spanish-speaking country. In Mexico you'll hear "¿Mande?" constantly; it's the polite, everyday way to say "pardon?" and using it will make you sound very Mexican, in a good way.

Avoid a bare "¿Qué?" (What?) with strangers. It isn't a swear word, but it can sound blunt, the way "What?" does in English.

When you need the whole thing again: "¿Me lo repites, por favor?" (Can you repeat it for me, please?) With usted: "¿Me lo puede repetir, por favor?" In Argentina, with vos: "¿Me lo repetís?" And the shortest version of all: "Otra vez, por favor." (Again, please.)

Speed is usually the real issue, not vocabulary. Ask for it directly: "¿Puedes hablar un poquito más despacio?" (Can you speak a little more slowly?) With usted: "¿Puede hablar un poquito más despacio?" With vos: "¿Podés hablar un poquito más despacio?" The "poquito" softens it and sounds friendlier than a plain "más despacio."

It helps to give a reason, because people slow down more when they understand why: "Perdón, todavía estoy aprendiendo. ¿Me hablas más despacito?" (Sorry, I'm still learning. Could you speak to me a bit more slowly?) Most people will happily slow down for a sentence or two. When they speed up again, which they will, just ask again with a smile. That's normal, not rude.

This is the level that changes everything. Instead of saying you didn't understand, you show which part you didn't understand, and the conversation keeps moving.

For a word you don't know: "¿Qué significa ___?" (What does ___ mean?) or "¿Qué quiere decir ___?" (What does ___ mean?) Just repeat the word back the way you heard it, even if you're not sure: "¿Qué significa 'chamba'?" (In Mexico, it means work or a job.)

For a part you lost: "No entendí la última parte." (I didn't get the last part.) "¿Después de qué?" (After what?) "¿Dijiste martes o miércoles?" (Did you say Tuesday or Wednesday?) A choice question like that last one is gold for numbers, days and times, because the answer is just one word.

For something that's still not clicking: "¿Me lo puedes explicar de otra manera?" (Can you explain it another way?) and "¿Me lo escribes?" (Can you write it down for me?) Writing is perfect for addresses, names and amounts. In a shop you can also ask "¿Me lo muestras?" (Can you show me?).

When the details matter, repeat back what you think you heard. It's what careful native speakers do too. "A ver si entendí: ¿tengo que volver mañana con el pasaporte?" (Let me see if I got it: I have to come back tomorrow with my passport?) "O sea, ¿la cita es a las tres?" (So the appointment is at three?) "Entonces, ¿son dos cuadras y a la derecha?" (So it's two blocks and to the right?)

If you're right, they'll say "Sí, exacto" and you're done. If you're wrong, they'll correct just the part you got wrong, which is much easier to understand than the original sentence.

Here's how that sounds at a pharmacy. You: "Buenas tardes, ¿tiene algo para el dolor de garganta?" Pharmacist: "Sí, mire, tiene que tomar una cada ocho horas, después de comer, por cinco días." You: "Perdón, ¿cada cuántas horas?" Pharmacist: "Cada ocho." You: "O sea, ¿tres al día, después de comer?" Pharmacist: "Exacto." You didn't understand everything the first time, and it didn't matter.

Sometimes you understand perfectly but can't find the words to answer. The same principle applies: say something in Spanish instead of going silent. "Un momento, déjame pensar." (One moment, let me think.) "¿Cómo se dice…?" (How do you say…?) "Es que no sé cómo decirlo." (I just don't know how to say it.)

Then describe what you mean instead of hunting for the perfect word: "Es como un… para…" (It's like a… for…). "Necesito la cosa para cargar el teléfono." (I need the thing for charging the phone.) The other person will usually supply the word ("¡Ah, un cargador!"), and you'll remember it far better than if you'd looked it up.

Mexico: "¿Mande?" for "pardon?", and you'll hear "¿Cómo dice?" from older people. Colombia: "¿Cómo así?" means "What do you mean?" or "How so?" and is used all the time. Argentina and Uruguay: switch to vos forms, like "¿Me lo repetís?" and "¿Podés hablar más despacio?", and you'll hear "¿Eh?" or "¿Cómo?" a lot. Across Latin America, "¿Perdón?" and "¿Cómo?" are safe everywhere.

If you're not sure whether to use tú or usted with someone, use usted with strangers, older people and anyone in an official role. Extra politeness rarely bothers anyone while you're learning.

Pick five phrases, one from each level, and write them on a card. Say each one out loud ten times, then try them in a fake conversation: play a Spanish podcast or video, pause it at a random moment and say one of your phrases as if the speaker could hear you. It sounds silly. It works, because you're practicing the reflex of reacting in Spanish under mild surprise.

The next step is a real voice conversation where you're allowed to get lost. That's a good use of TutorIA: you talk out loud with a patient coach or a roleplay partner who acts like a local in real scenes, and you can ask for a repeat or a slower version as many times as you need while you build the habit. If you're nervous about trying it with people first, our 7-day plan for the fear of speaking Spanish is a gentle place to start.