How to ask someone to repeat what he just said
Hello,
Let's say I'm talking to someone and he said something that I didn't quite catch. So I want him to repeat his last few words.
How do native English speakers actually say it? I would probably use something like:
"say it again"
"can you repeat that"
"what was that"
"didn't understand, say it again"
But it always sounds a bit off to me. What's a better option?

Would the answer change if I'm talking to an old distinguished person or to a close friend \ family member?

Thanks!

Question

How to ask someone to repeat what he just said
Hello,
Let's say I'm talking to someone and he said something that I didn't quite catch. So I want him to repeat his last few words.
How do native English speakers actually say it? I would probably use something like: 
"say it again"
"can you repeat that"
"what was that"
"didn't understand, say it again"
But it always sounds a bit off to me. What's a better option?

Would the answer change if I'm talking to an old distinguished person or to a close friend \ family member?

Thanks!

Answer

they are all good, or you can just say "pardon"
"I didn't catch that"
"Sorry say again"
"what was that"

there isn't any one standard way

Answer

more formally:
I beg your pardon
I'm sorry, I didn't hear you
Sorry, could I trouble you to repeat that please?

Answer

One phrase that always works is "Sorry, can you say that again, please?"  The "Can/Could you.... please?" pattern can fit any command to make it a request.

"Say it again" is a command, and this can seem rude. Adding "didn't understand" to the beginning is even more impolite! It sounds as if you're too lazy to say a basic sentence properly. "What was that?" could work, if you get the intonation right. - otherwise it also sounds blunt.  "Can you repeat that" works better with "please on the end.

Other commenters have already given good suggestions, so I'll just add another: "Sorry, come again?"

Answer

"Could you say it again"
"can you repeat that"
"what was that"
"I didn't understand, could you say it again"
You could also add the word please to be more polite

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