How to say “Can you repeat the sentence?” in Portuguese

Introduction

Knowing how to ask someone to repeat a sentence is one of the most useful skills for beginners learning Brazilian Portuguese. This article explains polite and casual ways to say Can you repeat the sentence? and gives practical examples, vocabulary, and short dialogues you can use in real-life situations like classes, restaurants, buses, or messages.

Why this phrase matters

As a beginner, you will often miss words or details when listening to native speakers. Asking for repetition helps you follow conversations, shows polite communication, and reduces misunderstandings. Learning different ways to ask for repetition will make interactions smoother whether you are studying, traveling, or working in Brazil.

Key Portuguese phrases to ask for repetition

The most direct and useful phrase is Você pode repetir a frase?

Other common variations include:

Você pode repetir?

Repete a frase, por favor?

Pode repetir, por favor?

Desculpa, você pode repetir o que disse?

Breakdown of the main phrase

Phrase: Você pode repetir a frase?

Você means you (polite and common in conversation).

pode is the present tense of poder, meaning can or could.

repetir is the verb to repeat (infinitive form).

a frase literally means the sentence or phrase. Use this when you want an exact sentence repeated.

Adding por favor makes the request polite: Você pode repetir a frase, por favor?

Polite vs casual forms

Brazilian Portuguese has both polite and casual registers. Choose based on context and who you are speaking to.

Polite phrases for teachers, clerks, or strangers:

Pode repetir, por favor?

Desculpe, poderia repetir a frase?

Here poderia is a conditional/polite form of poder, often translated as could you.

Casual phrases for friends or classmates:

Repete?

Repete de novo?

When speaking with close friends, shorter forms are natural and friendly.

Useful vocabulary and brief explanations

repetir – to repeat

frase – sentence or phrase

palavra – word

o que disse – what you said

por favor – please

desculpa – sorry (informal) or excuse me

com licença – excuse me (polite attention getter)

mais devagar – more slowly; useful when you need slower speech

When to ask for the whole sentence versus part of it

If you missed only one word, ask for the word: Que palavra é essa?

If you missed the entire sentence, ask: Você pode repetir a frase?

If you want the speaker to slow down, say: Você pode falar mais devagar, por favor?

For clarification of meaning, ask: O que isso significa? which means what does that mean.

Short beginner-friendly dialogues (real situations)

At a language class:

Aluno: Desculpa, você pode repetir a frase?
Professor: Claro, eu repito. A frase é Eu gosto de estudar português.

In a restaurant when you didn’t catch the special:

Cliente: Desculpe, você pode repetir o que disse sobre o prato do dia?
Garçom: Sim. O prato do dia é peixe com arroz e salada.

On a bus when a passenger speaks quietly:

Você: Com licença, pode repetir, por favor?
Passageiro: Sim, eu disse que esta é a parada para o centro.

Text message if you missed a written sentence:

Você: Não entendi. Você pode repetir a frase?
Amigo: Claro, segue de novo: Vamos nos encontrar às 18h.

Natural replies when someone asks you to repeat

Repeating the exact sentence: Claro, eu disse: Eu não posso ir hoje.

Offering to slow down: Posso falar mais devagar.

Summarizing instead of repeating: Em resumo, quero dizer que…

If you did not hear them: Não ouvi. Pode repetir, por favor?

Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them

Mistake: Using literal English structure that sounds awkward. Avoid word-by-word translation and use natural Portuguese order: Você pode repetir a frase? is correct, not *Pode você repetir a frase?*

Mistake: Forgetting por favor in formal contexts. Always add por favor when speaking to strangers or service workers.

Mistake: Using European Portuguese vocabulary like pedir instead of pedir with different pronoun usage. Stick to Brazilian usage shown here.

Mistake: Overusing desculpa in formal situations. Use desculpe or com licença with staff and older people.

Tips for practicing this phrase in everyday life

Use the phrase in low-stakes settings first, like with classmates or language exchange partners.

Practice short role-plays: one person reads a sentence, the other asks Você pode repetir a frase? and the reader repeats.

Record short audio of native speakers and pause to ask yourself Você pode repetir a frase? then replay to confirm.

In apps or voice chats, type Você pode repetir? to get used to reading and writing the structure as well as speaking.

Examples you might encounter on menus, schedules, and signs

At a train station announcement you missed: Desculpe, pode repetir, por favor? Onde é a plataforma 3?

On a restaurant menu when you want the server to repeat a description: Você pode repetir a frase sobre o molho?

In a class when the teacher gives a sentence to copy: Professor, você pode repetir a frase no quadro?

Helpful variations to sound more natural

Repete isso, por favor? – Repeat that, please. Slightly more casual and common in conversation.

Como? – How? or Pardon? Very short and informal; can sound abrupt, so use with friends.

O que foi? – What was that? Common in spoken Brazilian Portuguese, informal.

For very polite contexts use: Desculpe, poderia repetir a frase, por favor?

Quick reference cheat sheet

Você pode repetir a frase? – Can you repeat the sentence?

Você pode repetir? – Can you repeat?

Pode repetir, por favor? – Could you repeat, please?

Desculpe, poderia repetir o que disse? – Sorry, could you repeat what you said?

Você pode falar mais devagar? – Can you speak more slowly?

Conclusion

Learning to ask Can you repeat the sentence? in Brazilian Portuguese gives you confidence in conversations and helps you learn faster. Use the polite forms in formal situations and casual variations with friends. Practice the phrases in real contexts like classes, restaurants, and transportation to make them natural. The key phrase to remember is Você pode repetir a frase? and variations like Você pode repetir? and Pode repetir, por favor? will keep you understood and respectful in everyday interactions.