Everyday Norwegian conversation
Ask for Repetition and Clarification in Norwegian: Examples and Practice
Ask someone to repeat, explain a word or confirm what you heard. Practise eight situations so you have a next step when a Norwegian conversation becomes difficult.
The short answer
Missed the words? Kan du si det en gang til? (Can you say that again?)
Heard a word but do not know its meaning? Hva betyr «frist»? (What does “frist” mean?)
Need to check a detail? Sa du tirsdag eller torsdag? (Did you say Tuesday or Thursday?)
Choose the request that solves the problem. Repeating the same words may help when you did not hear them; an explanation or example is more useful when the meaning is unclear.
Say your response before opening the answer. The answers are models, not the only correct sentences. Revisit the situations and adapt your wording rather than memorising every full answer.
Eight examples with answers
Examples with answers
Try a response, then reveal a model answer. Add the examples once for gradual introduction and ongoing review in Learnalist. Saving requires an account.
Prompt
You missed a whole sentence in a conversation. Ask the speaker to say it again.
Show answer and explanation
Answer and explanation
Kan du si det en gang til? Can you say that again? Ask for repetition when you did not catch the words. Kan du gjenta det? is another option.
Prompt
The person repeats the sentence, but you still cannot follow the speed. Ask them to speak a little more slowly.
Show answer and explanation
Answer and explanation
Kan du snakke litt saktere? Can you speak a little more slowly? This changes the pace rather than asking for the same delivery again.
Prompt
You heard the word frist clearly, but do not know what it means. Ask about that word.
Show answer and explanation
Answer and explanation
Hva betyr «frist»? What does “frist” mean? Name the word so the other person knows what needs explaining. Frist means a deadline or time limit.
Prompt
You heard that the next lesson is on Tuesday or Thursday, but are unsure which. Check those two possibilities.
Show answer and explanation
Answer and explanation
Sa du tirsdag eller torsdag? Did you say Tuesday or Thursday? Offer the alternatives you heard so the speaker can confirm the day.
Prompt
Someone tells you their surname. You need to write it down. Ask them to spell it.
Show answer and explanation
Answer and explanation
Kan du stave etternavnet ditt? Can you spell your surname? Ask for the letters when another repetition of the name would not be enough.
Prompt
You have not managed to catch an address after hearing it twice. Ask the person to write it down.
Show answer and explanation
Answer and explanation
Kan du skrive ned adressen? Can you write down the address? Switching to writing gives you another way to check the information.
Prompt
You can hear the instructions, but their meaning is still unclear. Say that you do not understand and ask for a different explanation.
Show answer and explanation
Answer and explanation
Jeg forstår ikke. Kan du forklare det på en annen måte? I do not understand. Can you explain it another way? Ask for a new explanation, not just the same words repeated.
Prompt
You think the meeting starts at ten. Confirm the time, then imagine the person says yes. Give a checking question and a short response after confirmation.
Show answer and explanation
Answer and explanation
Begynner møtet klokka ti? Does the meeting start at ten? After confirmation: Takk, da vet jeg det. (Thanks, now I know.) Check the specific fact, then acknowledge the answer.
Usage notes
Make the request specific when you can. Kan du gjenta adressen? asks for the address again. If you caught part of it, say what you think you heard and check the missing detail.
Repetition and explanation are different. After hearing the words clearly, you can still say Jeg forstår ikke. Kan du forklare det på en annen måte? (I do not understand. Can you explain it another way?).
Use a second step. If a spoken address is still difficult, ask to see it in writing. If an unfamiliar name is the problem, ask how it is spelled. You can thank the person once the detail is clear.
Keep your tone natural. Unnskyld can introduce an interruption. Takk acknowledges help. A direct question such as Hva betyr det? is normal; adding more words does not guarantee a more polite exchange.
Reference: NTNU NoW2: asking for help with understanding.