Question 1

Why is it repite and not repita?

Accepted Answer

Because repite is the affirmative tú command (informal), while repita is the affirmative usted command (formal). In Latin America, with strangers, teachers, service staff, or in any formal context, use usted: Repita la pregunta, por favor. With friends or peers, tú is fine: Repite la pregunta, por favor.

Question 2

How can I make this request sound more polite?

Accepted Answer

Use a question with poder (can/could), often with an apologetic opener:
- Informal: Disculpa, ¿podrías repetir la pregunta, por favor?
- Formal: Disculpe, ¿podría repetir la pregunta, por favor?
These are softer than a direct command.

Question 3

Can I move por favor to a different position?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All are fine:
- Por favor, repite la pregunta.
- Repite la pregunta, por favor.
- Repite, por favor, la pregunta.
When por favor is at the beginning, put a comma after it; when it’s at the end or in the middle, set it off with commas.

Question 4

Why do we say la pregunta? Can I drop the article?

Accepted Answer

Spanish typically uses a definite article with specific, identifiable nouns. Here you mean “the question (you just asked),” so la is required: la pregunta. You can also use a demonstrative: esa pregunta. You cannot say Repite pregunta in standard Spanish.

Question 5

Can I replace la pregunta with a pronoun?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Use the direct object pronoun la:
- Affirmative command (attach the pronoun and add an accent to keep the stress): Repítela, por favor.
- Negative command (pronoun before the verb): No la repitas, por favor.
If you want “repeat it for me”:  
- Informal: Repítemela, por favor.  
- Formal: Repítamela, por favor.  
Pronoun order: indirect (me/te/le/nos/les) + direct (lo/la/los/las).

Question 6

What if I’m talking to several people?

Accepted Answer

Use the ustedes command in Latin America: Repitan la pregunta, por favor.  
(In Spain, the informal plural would be Repetid la pregunta, but Latin America uses ustedes for all plural you.)

Question 7

Should this sentence have question marks?

Accepted Answer

Not in its command form. It’s an imperative (a request), so no ¿…? are needed. If you reformulate it as a question—e.g., ¿Podría repetir la pregunta, por favor?—then you must use ¿…?.

Question 8

How is repite formed?

Accepted Answer

From the verb repetir (e → i stem-change). The affirmative tú imperative uses the third-person singular of the present indicative:
- Present: repito, repites, repite, repetimos, repiten
- Affirmative tú command: repite  
Negative tú uses the present subjunctive: no repitas.

Question 9

Any pronunciation tips?

Accepted Answer

- Repite: reh-PEE-teh (stress on the second syllable).  
- Pregunta: preh-GOON-tah (hard g as in “go”; the r is a single tap).  
Clear, pure vowels; no schwa sounds.

Question 10

Is there a difference between pregunta and cuestión?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Pregunta is a question someone asks. Cuestión means “issue/matter/topic” and is not used to mean the specific question you want repeated. Here you must use pregunta.

Question 11

Can I add otra vez or de nuevo?

Accepted Answer

Yes, to emphasize repetition:
- Repite la pregunta otra vez, por favor.
- Repite la pregunta de nuevo, por favor.
Avoid the pleonasm volver a repetir in careful writing, though it’s common in speech.

Question 12

Do I need a comma before por favor?

Accepted Answer

When por favor comes at the end of the sentence, most style guides recommend a comma before it: …, por favor. At the start, place a comma after: Por favor, … If it’s in the middle, set it off with commas: …, por favor, …

Question 13

Can I include the subject pronoun (tú or usted)?

Accepted Answer

Normally no; commands already imply the subject. Adding it sounds emphatic or even bossy: Tú repite la pregunta. Use it only for contrast or strong emphasis.

Question 14

What about countries that use vos?

Accepted Answer

In voseo areas (e.g., Argentina, Uruguay, parts of Central America):
- Affirmative: Repetí la pregunta, por favor.
- Negative: No repitás la pregunta, por favor.  
Use these only where voseo is standard.

Question 15

How do I ask “Could you repeat the question for me?” with me?

Accepted Answer

- Informal question: ¿Me repites la pregunta, por favor?
- Formal question: ¿Me repite la pregunta, por favor?
- Formal command: Repítame la pregunta, por favor.  
Here me is an indirect object meaning “for me.”

Question 16

Do I need the personal a before la pregunta?

Accepted Answer

No. The personal a is used with direct objects that are people (or personified entities). La pregunta is a thing, so no a: Repite la pregunta (not Repite a la pregunta).

Question 17

Are there even shorter ways to ask for repetition?

Accepted Answer

Yes, very common in conversation:
- ¿Perdón? / Perdón.
- ¿Cómo?
- Mexico: ¿Mande?  
These are softer, quick prompts meaning “Pardon?” or “What?”

Repite la pregunta, por favor.

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