Looking up...
please repeat
/pliːz rɪˈpiːt/
request to say again
I didn't catch that—could you please repeat it?
A polite request for someone to say something again.
formal
A polite request for someone to say something again.
Could you please repeat the instructions?
A formal request for clarification.
Please repeat after me: 'Hello, how are you?'
A teaching context where repetition is expected.
Commonly used in conversations, classrooms, or professional settings when clarification is needed.
informal
An instruction to say something again.
Please repeat: 'I love you.'
A direct request to say the same words again.
Can be blunt if tone is not softened.
Collocations
could you please repeata more polite variationplease repeat thata concise alternative
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Politeness in requests
Adding 'could you' or 'would you' before 'please repeat' makes the request sound more courteous, especially in formal or professional settings.
Gold Rule
Use in context
Ensure the phrase is used when you genuinely need repetition, not as a filler or interruption.
Word Origin
The phrase combines the polite interjection 'please' (from Middle English 'plesen', meaning to please or satisfy) with 'repeat' (from Latin 'repetere', meaning to ask back or say again). The construction emerged in Early Modern English as a formal request for repetition.
Usage Notes
The phrase is universally understood in English-speaking contexts. Adding 'could you' or 'would you' softens the request further. In writing, it is often followed by a comma or question mark.
Word Breakdown
please
a polite request or interjection
wordrepeat
to say or state again
wordEnglish Dictionary