What to say when you do not understand

Key rules

• Default form: Use usted with strangers, officials, office staff, doctors and older people, and switch to tú when they start it or invite you to.
• Avoid plain ¿Qué?: Say ¿Perdón? or ¿Cómo? instead, because a bare ¿Qué? sounds blunt.
• Slower speech: Ask ¿Puede hablar más despacio, por favor? and add Estoy aprendiendo español.
• Important details: For names, numbers and addresses, ask for them written down or spelled out.

Start with these five phrases

Learn these first. They cover most situations, and they keep the conversation going.

• ¿Perdone? / ¿Perdón? / ¿Cómo? Use these to ask for a repeat.
• ¿Puede hablar más despacio, por favor? Use this to ask for slower speech.
• Estoy aprendiendo español. This tells people why you are asking, and they usually help more.
• ¿Puede explicarlo de otra forma? Use this to ask for other words.
• ¿Me lo puede escribir, por favor? Use this to ask for it in writing.

Say them with a smile and a "por favor". Asking is normal, and nobody takes it as an insult.

Choose usted or tú

Use usted by default with strangers, officials, office staff, doctors and older people. Switch to tú when the other person starts it or invites you to. If someone says "puedes tutearme" or "tútéame", they are inviting you to switch.

Younger staff, bars and casual shops often use tú from the start. It is accepted when they begin it. Mirror the way the other person speaks to you.

The phrases below are given in the usted form first, then the tú form for friends and peers.

Ask someone to repeat

• ¿Perdón? or ¿Cómo? are neutral and polite.
• ¿Perdone? is the formal version. ¿Perdona? is the informal one.
• ¿Puede repetir, por favor? is formal. ¿Puedes repetir? or ¿Me lo repites? is informal.
• Perdone, no le he entendido. is formal. No te he entendido. is informal.
• ¿Cómo dice? is formal.
• ¿Puede repetirlo más despacio? asks for a repeat and slower speech in one go.

Do not say a plain ¿Qué?. It sounds blunt, so keep it for friends. ¿Qué has dicho? is also for friends only.

Ask someone to slow down

• ¿Puede hablar más despacio, por favor? Informal: ¿Puedes hablar más despacio?
• ¿Más despacio, por favor? is a short version that works well in a rush.

Many people in Spain speak fast and expressively by default. Some raise their voice when you do not understand, because they think louder is clearer. It is a well-meant habit, not anger. Ask for "más despacio" and add "Estoy aprendiendo español".

Ask for other words

• ¿Qué significa…? or ¿Qué quiere decir…? asks what a word means.
• ¿Puede explicarlo de otra forma? Informal: ¿Puedes explicarlo con otras palabras?
• ¿Puede usar palabras más sencillas? asks for simpler words.
• ¿Me lo puede explicar más fácil? asks for an easier explanation.
• No conozco esa palabra. says you do not know the word.
• ¿Qué es eso de…? asks about something you have only half heard.
• ¿Cómo se dice… en español? asks for the Spanish word when you are missing one.
• ¿Quiere decir que…? checks your understanding. Say it back in your own words, and the other person can confirm or correct you.

Ask for it in writing

Writing is the best fix for numbers, names, addresses and anything official.

• ¿Me lo puede escribir, por favor? Informal: ¿Me lo puedes escribir?
• ¿Puede anotármelo? is formal.
• ¿Me lo apunta, por favor? is common in shops and offices.
• ¿Me lo puede deletrear? asks for spelling.
• ¿Me lo puede mandar por correo? or por WhatsApp? asks for it to be sent to you.

If they switch to English

Some people switch to English to be helpful. If you want to practise, reply politely in Spanish and carry on, for example with "Estoy aprendiendo español". The quick answers below cover this and other common situations.

Quick answers about being misunderstood in Spanish

Is it rude to ask someone in Spain to repeat themselves?

No, asking someone in Spain to repeat themselves is normal and not rude. Start with "Perdone, ¿me lo puede repetir?" to keep it polite. A bare "¿Qué?" sounds abrupt with strangers, though it is fine with friends.

Why do people speak louder instead of slower when I do not understand?

Many people in Spain raise their voice because they think it makes speech clearer, and they often talk fast by default. It is a well-meant habit, not hostility. Say "¿Puede hablar más despacio, por favor?" and add "Estoy aprendiendo español" if you need to.

What can I do if shop or office staff lose patience with my Spanish?

Stay calm and friendly, and ask for the key point in one sentence or ask them to write it down. Impatience is usually about the queue, not about you. Greet them, say "Muchas gracias", and come back at a quieter time if needed. For offices, bring documents and a written list of questions, and book an appointment (cita previa) where you can.

Why do people switch to English when I speak Spanish?

People switch to English mostly to be polite and helpful, or to practise their own English, and it often does not mean they doubt your Spanish. To stay in Spanish, keep replying in Spanish and say "Prefiero practicar español, si no le importa".