Recommended resources
The freely available resources this lesson will direct you to.
Hi! This course is about the small phrases that keep real conversations moving. You already speak English independently; here, the focus is on having a natural response ready when a moment doesn’t go as expected.
Today’s moment is simple: someone speaks, but you miss their words. You’ll learn a few common American English ways to ask them to repeat themselves, and how to choose one that fits the situation. You don’t need to work out a grammar rule before you speak.
A dependable phrase to keep ready
Imagine someone says something in a noisy café. You hear their voice, but not the words. A reliable response is:
“Sorry, could you say that again?”
Here, sorry is a gentle way to interrupt. You are not making a serious apology or saying the other person did anything wrong. The rest of the sentence tells them exactly what would help.
That shorter phrase—“Sorry, what did you say?”—works too. Notice that both versions begin gently and clearly ask for another chance to hear the words.
Learn English Conversation | Asking Native Speakers to Repeat Themselves
Watch “Learn English Conversation | Asking Native Speakers to Repeat Themselves” from Shaw English Online to hear several requests for repetition spoken aloud.
Watch polite options for “Please say that again,” “Excuse me,” and “Sorry, I didn’t hear that.” Then watch casual options, especially “Sorry, what did you say?” Listen once for the phrases, then replay them and say each phrase aloud immediately after the speaker. We’ll look below at why the shortest option, “What?”, needs more care.
You do not need to memorize every option in the video. Start with “Sorry, could you say that again?” as your all-purpose line. Once it feels automatic, add one shorter version for casual moments.
Choosing the right amount to say
If you missed a whole sentence, a full request gives the speaker clear direction. If you missed only a brief comment from a friend, one word may be enough. These are useful choices:
| What happened | Natural response |
|---|---|
| You missed the words and want a reliable, polite request. | “Sorry, could you say that again?” |
| You want to briefly signal that you missed a short comment. | “Sorry?” |
| You missed the words in a relaxed conversation. | “Sorry, what did you say?” |
| You want to explain what happened. | “Sorry, I didn’t catch that. Could you say it again?” |
“I didn’t catch that” means the words didn’t reach you clearly enough to take in. It’s a conversational alternative to “I didn’t hear that.” In both cases, you are asking to hear the words again—not announcing that you cannot understand English.
The short “Sorry?” works best when your voice rises gently, like a question. Said flatly, it may sound like an apology instead of a request to repeat. A friendly expression and a slight lean toward the speaker can help make your meaning clear.
Listen to how a missed sentence can be handled without stopping the conversation for long:
Speaker: “We close at six today.”
You: “Sorry, could you say that again?”
Speaker: “We close at six.”
You: “Oh, thanks.”
Once you’ve heard the words, a brief acknowledgment is enough. There’s no need to explain at length why you missed them.
When the connection—not the speaker—is the problem
On a phone call, words can disappear because the signal breaks up. Naming the problem can be helpful: “Sorry, you cut out for a second. Could you say that again?” You are still making the same request for repetition; you’re simply giving a little context.
Read the phone conversation in “Everyday Conversations” to see how a request for repetition fits into an ordinary exchange.
On printed page 16, find “Dialogue 1-7: Can You Say That Again?” Read the phone exchange and first language note: begin with Luke’s opening greeting, continue through the first “LANGUAGE NOTES” paragraph directly below the dialogue, and stop after its comment about rising intonation. Focus on Luke’s request to repeat the words and his brief explanation that the phone is cutting out. You can leave the later notes about checking details for another lesson.
Luke uses more than one phrase because the call is particularly unclear. In most face-to-face conversations, one request is enough. Give the speaker a chance to repeat before adding another explanation.
The dialogue also includes “Can you repeat that, please?” This is perfectly usable. In a quick everyday exchange, “Could you say that again?” can feel a little more conversational; repeat is especially handy when you want to be unmistakably clear.
Why tone matters as much as the words
You may hear someone say “What?” when they miss a friend’s words. That can be normal in a relaxed conversation. But said loudly or sharply—especially to a stranger—it can sound irritated, as though you are challenging what they said. “What did you say?” can have the same problem if the tone is confrontational.
Adding “Sorry” gives you a safer starting point. Compare how these lines might sound after you miss a quiet comment:
“What?” — depends heavily on your relationship and tone.
“Sorry?” — brief and usually gentle.
“Sorry, what did you say?” — casual and explicit.
“Sorry, could you say that again?” — clear and dependable.
For a few minutes of spoken practice, take the sentence “We close at six today” from the earlier exchange. Imagine you missed it, and say each of the last three responses aloud with a gentle questioning tone. Then choose one to keep as your default. The goal is for it to come to mind before an awkward silence does.
Takeaway
When you miss someone’s words, you can keep the conversation moving with “Sorry, could you say that again?” Use “Sorry?” for a quick request or “Sorry, what did you say?” in a relaxed exchange. A gentle tone makes these short phrases sound like requests for help, not objections.
Next, you’ll build on this skill by asking someone to speak louder or more slowly when repetition alone won’t solve the problem.