Ask for Clarification in Spanish

Quick Answer

¡Hola!Learn how to ask for clarification in Spanish! Specifically, learn how to do the following in Spanish:

• ask what something means

• ask how something is pronounced

• say that you don't understand

• ask someone to speak slower or repeat themself

• use polite language

Vocabulary

Let's check out the great words and phrases you learn for asking for clarification in Spanish in these lessons!

Nouns

Spanish	English
el apellido	last name
el nombre	name
la palabra	word
el problema	problem
la pregunta	question
la traducción	translation
el traductor	translator

Gender Tip

The noun problema ends in an a, but it is a masculine noun!

examples
Tengo un problema. I have a problem.

Verbs

Here are the new verbs you learn in these lessons!

Comprender

Comprenderis a regular -er verb that means to understand.

Pronoun(s)	Conjugation	Translation	Notes
yo	comprendo	I understand
tú	comprendes	you understand	informal singular you
vos	comprendés	you understand	informal singular you (in parts of Latin America)
él, ella	comprende	he, she understands
usted	comprende	you understand	formal singular you
nosotros, nosotras	comprendemos	we understand
vosotros, vosotras	comprendéis	you understand	informal plural you (in Spain)
ellos, ellas	comprenden	they understand
ustedes	comprenden	you understand	plural you (in Latin America), formal plural you (in Spain)

Escribir

Escribiris a regular -ir verb that means to write.

Pronoun(s)	Conjugation	Translation	Notes
yo	escribo	I write
tú	escribes	you write	informal singular you
vos	escribís	you write	informal singular you (in parts of Latin America)
él, ella	escribe	he, she writes
usted	escribe	you write	formal singular you
nosotros, nosotras	escribimos	we write
vosotros, vosotras	escribís	you write	informal plural you (in Spain)
ellos, ellas	escriben	they write
ustedes	escriben	you write	plural you (in Latin America), formal plural you (in Spain)

Preguntar

Preguntaris a regular -ar verb that means to ask.

Pronoun(s)	Conjugation	Translation	Notes
yo	pregunto	I ask
tú	preguntas	you ask	informal singular you
vos	preguntás	you ask	informal singular you (in parts of Latin America)
él, ella	pregunta	he, she asks
usted	pregunta	you ask	formal singular you
nosotros, nosotras	preguntamos	we ask
vosotros, vosotras	preguntáis	you ask	informal plural you (in Spain)
ellos, ellas	preguntan	they ask
ustedes	preguntan	you ask	plural you (in Latin America), formal plural you (in Spain)

Phrases

This lesson is full of useful phrases. Take a look!

Spanish	English
¿Comprende español?	Do you understand Spanish?
¿Comprendes?	Do you understand?
Gracias.	Thank you.
No comprendo.	I don't understand.
¿Cuál es el problema?	What's the problem?
¿Cómo se dice esta palabra?	How do you say this word?
¿Cómo se escribe esta palabra?	How do you write this word?
¿Cómo se pronuncia esta palabra?	How do you pronounce this word?
¿Cuál es su apellido?	What's your last name?
¿Cuál es su nombre?	What's your name?
Más alto, por favor.	Louder, please.
Más despacio, por favor.	Slower, please.
¡Oye!	Hey!
Perdón.	Sorry./Excuse me.
¿Puede repetir la pregunta?	Can you repeat the question?
¿Puedo comprobar la hora de salida?	Can I check the departure time?
¿Qué quiere decir?	What do you mean?
¿Qué quieres preguntar?	What do you want to ask?
¿Qué significa esta palabra?	What does this word mean?
Tengo una pregunta.	I have a question.

The Handy Impersonal Se

Many of the phrases in these lessons use the impersonal se, which is often used to say how things are done in general. It's very useful for asking how things are said, written, or pronounced! It's also very easy to form.

In impersonal se constructions, verbs are always conjugated in the third person singular (the el/ella form).

Impersonal Se Formula

se + verb in third person singular

Here are some examples from these lessons!

examples
¿Cómo se dice esta palabra? How do you say this word?
¿Cómo se escribe esta palabra? How do you write this word?
¿Cómo se pronuncia esta palabra? How do you pronounce this word?

Quiz Yourself!

Want more practice with the vocabulary you learned in these lessons? Click here!

Spanish Conversations

Now, let's take a look at some different situations and conversations that make use of the phrases you learn in these lessons!

Conversation 1: What Does This Word Mean?

David:

Tengo una pregunta.

I have a question.

Gloria:

¿Qué quieres preguntar?

What do you want to ask?

David:

¿Qué significa esta palabra?

What does this word mean?

Gloria:

¿Trayecto? Significa "ruta". "Route" en inglés.

Trayecto? It means "ruta." "Route" in English.

David:

¿Cómo se pronuncia?

How do you pronounce it?

Gloria:

Trayecto. Tra. YEHK. Toh.

Trayecto. Tra. YEHK. Toh.

Conversation 2: I Don't Understand

Gloria:

El tren está retrasado.

The train is delayed.

David:

No comprendo. ¿Qué quiere decir?

I don't understand. What do you mean?

Gloria:

El tren está retrasado. Llega tarde.

The train is delayed. It's arriving late.

David:

Comprendo. ¡Gracias!

I understand. Thank you!

Conversation 3: Slower, Please

David:

¿Cuál es su nombre?

What's your name?

Honorata:

Honorata Hernández.

Honorata Hernandez.

David:

Perdón. No comprendo. Mas despacio, por favor.

I'm sorry. I don't understand. Slower, please.

Honorata:

Mi nombre es Honorata.

My name is Honorata.

David:

Comprendo. ¿Cuál es su apellido?

I understand. What is your last name?

Honorata:

Hernández.

Hernandez.

David:

¿Hernández se escribe con acento?

Is Hernandez written with an accent?

Honorata:

Sí, tiene acento en la a.

Yes, it has an accent on the a.

Want to learn more about how get clarification in Spanish? Check out the following articles!

• How to Say "I Don't Understand" in Spanish

• How to Say "I Don't Know" in Spanish

• Last Names in Spanish

• Fundamental Spanish Phrases to Learn Right Away