THE QUICK ANSWER
To ask someone to repeat in Polish, say Proszę powtórzyć (Please repeat that) or Jeszcze raz, proszę (Once more, please). For slower speech, use Proszę mówić wolniej. If you hear the words but do not understand their meaning, ask Co to znaczy? (What does that mean?).
WORDS YOU CAN USE TODAY
10 useful phrases
Listen to the Polish, then try it aloud. Audio uses a synthetic Polish voice; no voice installation is needed.
Przepraszam, nie rozumiem.
Sorry, I do not understand.
Przepraszam softens the message. Nie rozumiem describes your present understanding and works for any speaker.
Proszę powtórzyć.
Please repeat that.
A polite request you can use with staff or someone you do not know. Powtórzyć means to repeat.
Jeszcze raz, proszę.
Once more, please.
A short way to ask for another repetition. Jeszcze raz means once more.
Proszę mówić wolniej.
Please speak more slowly.
Use this when the speed is the problem. Wolniej means more slowly.
Uczę się polskiego.
I am learning Polish.
Add this to explain why you need more time. Keep się with uczę; polskiego is the form used in this phrase.
Co to znaczy?
What does that mean?
Ask when you have heard or seen something but need its meaning.
Co znaczy „wejście”?
What does “wejście” mean?
Replace the quoted word with the word you want explained. Wejście means entrance in the dialogue.
Proszę to zapisać.
Please write that down.
Useful when you need to see a name, number or other detail in writing.
Czy możesz powtórzyć?
Can you repeat that?
Informal singular you. Use with a friend or someone you already address informally.
Teraz rozumiem, dziękuję.
Now I understand, thank you.
A useful reply when the repeated words or explanation have helped.
Practise conversations aloud with feedback in Movoza.
Choose between another repeat and slower speech
If a sentence passes too quickly, start with Przepraszam, nie rozumiem. Proszę powtórzyć. You can also say Jeszcze raz, proszę. Both requests ask to hear something again; neither specifies a slower speed.
If the next attempt is still too fast, ask Proszę mówić wolniej. Add Uczę się polskiego to explain that you are learning. Proszę followed by an infinitive, such as powtórzyć or mówić, gives you a useful polite request without choosing pan or pani.
Ask for meaning or a written version
Sometimes you can hear a word clearly but do not know it. Ask Co to znaczy? for the meaning of what was just said. To point to one word, use Co znaczy „wejście”? In the practice dialogue, wejście means entrance. Repeating the same unfamiliar word alone may not help until someone explains it.
For a detail you want to see, use Proszę to zapisać. You might ask for a place name or a room number in writing, then read it back to check. Practise with an invented place or number. When the explanation is clear, say Teraz rozumiem, dziękuję.
Match the request to the person
Proszę powtórzyć and Proszę mówić wolniej are useful polite options at a reception desk or with a stranger. Czy możesz powtórzyć? uses the informal singular form możesz. Choose it with a friend or when you already use informal ty with the other person.
Nie rozumiem means I do not understand; Nie wiem means I do not know. Use the first when the language is unclear. Use the second when you understand the question but do not have the information. If someone asks where a shop is and you have no idea, Nie wiem, przepraszam means I do not know, sorry.
PUT IT TOGETHER
A short conversation
Read both parts. Then cover the English and try your reply aloud.
- Staff member
Dzień dobry. Proszę poczekać przy wejściu.
Hello. Please wait by the entrance.
- You
Przepraszam, nie rozumiem. Proszę powtórzyć.
Sorry, I do not understand. Please repeat that.
- Staff member
Proszę poczekać przy wejściu.
Please wait by the entrance.
- You
Proszę mówić wolniej. Uczę się polskiego.
Please speak more slowly. I am learning Polish.
- Staff member
Oczywiście. Proszę... poczekać... przy wejściu.
Of course. Please... wait... by the entrance.
- You
Co znaczy „wejście”?
What does “wejście” mean?
- Staff member
To miejsce, przez które wchodzi się do budynku.
It is the place where you enter a building.
- You
Teraz rozumiem, dziękuję.
Now I understand, thank you.
YOUR TURN
One small speaking challenge.
Choose a different goal on each round: hear the sentence again, hear it more slowly, or see it written down. Say the matching request without looking. Then practise asking what wejście means and thanking the other person after the explanation.
You hear a place name and want to see it in writing. Which request asks for that?
Show the answer
Proszę to zapisać. Proszę to zapisać asks someone to write it down. Jeszcze raz, proszę asks to hear it again, and Uczę się polskiego explains that you are learning Polish.
Now say Proszę to zapisać. aloud.
