Introduction
Learning how to say I will repeat after you is a small but very useful skill for beginner Brazilian Portuguese learners. It helps in classrooms, language exchanges, travel, and everyday practice. This article explains natural ways to express that idea, breaks down key vocabulary, gives simple dialogues, and points out common mistakes so you can repeat and improve with confidence.
Basic translations and when to use them
The most straightforward way to say I will repeat after you in Brazilian Portuguese is Vou repetir depois de você. This phrase is polite and clear for most situations where you want to copy someone word for word, such as in pronunciation practice, repeating a menu item, or echoing instructions.
Another common, slightly shorter version is Vou repetir. Depending on context, you can add a clarifier, for example Vou repetir depois or Vou repetir o que você disse to make it explicit that you will repeat their words.
Key vocabulary explained
Vou — contraction of eu vou, meaning I will. This is the future tense formed with the verb ir + infinitive, commonly used in spoken Brazilian Portuguese.
Repetir — to repeat. Regular -ir verb. Pronounced reh-peh-CHEER (approx.).
Depois — after. Used here to mean after you or after what you say.
Você — you (singular, polite/informal in Brazil). Very common in spoken Brazilian Portuguese.
O que você disse — what you said. Useful to clarify you will repeat the exact words.
Common beginner phrases and variations
Below are short, natural phrases you can use depending on context, formality, and clarity needs.
Vou repetir depois de você — I will repeat after you. Safe default.
Posso repetir depois de você? — Can I repeat after you? Polite request form.
Repito depois — I repeat after / I will repeat later. Short, colloquial.
Vou repetir o que você falou — I will repeat what you said. Slightly more explicit.
Repete que eu repito — Repeat and I’ll repeat. Casual, used with friends or classmates.
Simple explanations of structure
In Brazilian Portuguese, the near future is often expressed with ir + infinitive. Vou repetir literally means I am going to repeat. Using depois de você places the timing and reference after the person speaking. If you want to ask permission use posso or posso repetir.
Practical situations and example sentences
These examples show how to use the phrases in everyday beginner-friendly contexts like classroom practice, restaurants, and travel.
Classroom listening practice
Teacher: Repita comigo.
Student: Vou repetir depois de você.
Language exchange
Partner: Eu vou dizer uma frase, tente imitar.
You: Posso repetir depois de você?
Ordering in a restaurant
Waiter: Hoje só temos arroz com frango.
You: Desculpe, posso repetir depois de você? — used if you want to make sure you heard correctly before ordering.
On public transportation
Announcer: Próxima parada: Avenida Paulista.
You: Vou repetir, to practice pronunciation or to remember the stop.
Short dialogues for beginners
Dialogue 1 — classroom
Professor: Fale a frase.
Aluno: Vou repetir depois de você.
Professor: Muito bem, repita: Eu moro no Brasil.
Dialogue 2 — language partner
Parceiro: Diga: Obrigado.
Você: Posso repetir depois de você?
Parceiro: Pode, obrigado.
Dialogue 3 — shop
Atendente: É meia, R$ 25.
Cliente: Repete que eu repito.
Atendente: É meia entrada, vinte e cinco reais.
Pronunciation tips for beginners
Repetir: stress on the final syllable — re-pe-TIR. Practice the r sound at the end softly like a tapped r or approximate with a light d sound if needed as a beginner.
Depois: pronounced deh-POIS, with the oi like in boil but shorter. Practice linking words: vou repetir becomes vourepetir in fast speech.
Você: stress on the second syllable vo-SEH. The initial v is voiced like in English.
Politeness and tone: when to ask instead of announce
Use posso repetir depois de você? when you want permission or to be polite, for example when interrupting a teacher or repeating someone older. Use vou repetir depois de você for simple statements of intent, common among classmates or when mimicking pronunciation exercises.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Mistake 1: saying literal English word order vou depois repetir você — incorrect word order. Correct: Vou repetir depois de você or Vou repetir o que você disse.
Mistake 2: overusing European pronouns like tu in contexts typical for Brazilian Portuguese. In Brazil, prefer você for most casual and polite situations unless you know the region uses tu.
Mistake 3: dropping depois or deixar out key words. Saying vou repetir alone is fine but can be ambiguous; add depois de você if you need to be clear.
Helpful quick phrases to pair with repeating
Mais devagar, por favor — Slower, please. Useful when asking someone to repeat slowly so you can repeat after them.
Como se pronuncia? — How is it pronounced? Use this before you repeat.
Posso ouvir de novo? — Can I hear it again? Helpful when you need repetition before you repeat.
Additional beginner tips
When practicing with native speakers, start with short phrases and ask for slower speech. Use the verb repetir often; it is very practical. Combine repeating with recording yourself: listen, repeat, compare. In everyday life repeat menu items, addresses, or directions to build confidence.
Keep a small notebook with phrases like Vou repetir depois de você and the vocabulary explained here so you can quickly use them in class or language exchanges.
Conclusion
Knowing how to say I will repeat after you in Brazilian Portuguese gives you a concrete way to practice speaking and pronunciation. Use Vou repetir depois de você as your go-to, and try polite variants like Posso repetir depois de você? in formal situations. With the short dialogues, vocabulary, and tips here, you can confidently repeat phrases in classrooms, restaurants, and conversations as a beginner.
