Say You Don’t Understand and Ask for Help — Lesson 1
Someone speaks to you in Spanish, but you cannot follow what they are saying. These Spanish survival phrases will help you explain that you do not understand, ask the person to repeat and request slower speech. Listen, repeat and practise them aloud so that you can use them when you need help in Spain.
OPTIONAL — EXPLORE ONLY IF YOU WANT BASIC GRAMMAR Applied to today’s lessonEssential Spanish Survival Phrases for Today
Tap the speaker icon to listen. Repeat each expression three times: slowly at first and then at a natural speed. Imagine that you are speaking to a real person.
1. I Don’t Understand
Use this when you cannot understand what someone has said. It is short, direct and appropriate in most everyday situations.
2. More Slowly, Please
Use this when someone is speaking too quickly. Adding por favor makes the request polite.
3. Can You Repeat?
Use this when you want to hear the information again. This polite form is suitable when speaking to a stranger, employee or someone you do not know well.
4. What Does It Mean?
Use this when you hear or read a word that you do not know. You can repeat or point to the unfamiliar word before asking.
5. Again, Please
This is a short way to ask someone to say something one more time.
6. I’m Learning Spanish
This explains why you may need extra time, repetition or simpler language.
7. I Speak a Little Spanish
Use this to explain that you can communicate a little but may not understand everything.
8. Can You Write It Down?
Use this when seeing the information would be easier than hearing it. It is especially useful for names, addresses, telephone numbers and appointment details.
Pronounce the Five Spanish Vowels
Spanish has five basic vowels. Their sounds are generally clearer and more consistent than English vowels.
Tap each speaker icon and repeat the sound three times.
A clear, open sound, similar to the vowel in the English word father.
Example: más
A short, clear sound, similar to the vowel in bed. Do not turn it into an English “ay” sound.
Example: entiendo
Similar to “ee” in see, but usually shorter.
Example: significa
A clear, rounded sound. Avoid adding a second vowel sound at the end.
Example: poco
Similar to “oo” in food, but short and clear.
Example: puede
Now listen and repeat all five vowels together:
Keep each sound short and clear.
Practise Spanish Survival Phrases
Complete the short activity below. You can retry it if you need more practice.
Listen to Spanish Survival Phrases in a Short Dialogue
Imagine that you are at a bus station in Madrid.
Tap the speaker icon beside each line and listen while reading. Then cover the learner’s lines, play each part again and respond aloud.
Check Your Understanding
Answer these questions before opening the solutions.
- Why does the learner ask the staff member to speak more slowly?
- Which word does the learner not understand?
- What does the learner finally ask the staff member to do?
Show the answers
- The learner does not understand the first explanation.
- The unfamiliar word is andén.
- The learner asks the staff member to write the information.
Now cover the learner’s lines and read the dialogue again. Try to respond before looking.
Use Spanish Survival Phrases in Real Life
Situation 1 — At a Health Centre
A receptionist gives you an instruction too quickly, and you cannot understand it completely.
Choose two expressions from today’s lesson and say them aloud before opening the possible response.
Show a possible response
No entiendo. Más despacio, por favor.
Situation 2 — At Work
Someone gives you an instruction, but you do not understand one important word.
Respond without looking back at the phrase list. Explain that you are learning Spanish, ask the person to repeat and ask what the unfamiliar word means.
Show a possible response
Estoy aprendiendo español. ¿Puede repetir? ¿Qué significa?
If you still cannot understand the information, you can add:
¿Puede escribirlo?
Say your response once while reading. Then close the possible response and say it again without looking.
Write Something Useful
Create a short help note that you can keep on your phone and show to someone when communication becomes difficult.
Choose three expressions from today’s lesson and write your own note before opening the example.
Show an example
Estoy aprendiendo español. Hablo un poco de español. ¿Puede escribirlo?
Read your note aloud and save it somewhere easy to find on your phone.
Final Speaking Challenge
Complete this final situation without looking back at the lesson.
You are at a pharmacy. The assistant speaks too quickly and uses a word that you do not understand. You also need the important information in writing.
Respond in Spanish using the expressions that you need.
Show a possible response
Estoy aprendiendo español. Más despacio, por favor. ¿Qué significa? ¿Puede escribirlo?
If you can choose and say the appropriate expressions without looking, you have achieved today’s practical goal.
Basic Grammar — Applied to This Lesson
This section is optional. You can complete today’s lesson without studying it.
Put “No” Before the Verb
In Spanish, place no directly before the verb to make a negative sentence:
Entiendo. — I understand.
No entiendo. — I don’t understand.
Spanish does not need an additional word equivalent to the English auxiliary do in this sentence.
Use “¿Puede…?” for a Polite Request
In today’s expressions, ¿Puede…? means “Can you…?” or “Could you…?”
¿Puede repetir? — Can you repeat?
¿Puede escribirlo? — Can you write it down?
You can also add por favor:
¿Puede repetir, por favor?
You do not need to learn a complete verb table today. Remember these questions as useful expressions.
Questions Use Two Question Marks
Written Spanish places a question mark at both the beginning and the end:
¿Puede repetir?
¿Qué significa?
¿Puede escribirlo?
The opening mark ¿ immediately tells the reader that a question is beginning.
For a more detailed explanation, see the Real Academia Española’s official guide to Spanish question marks.