Asking a coworker to re-explain: Explain in simpler terms
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Key Phrases
Kannst du das bitte noch mal erklären?
Can you please explain that again?
Ich verstehe es noch nicht ganz.
I still don't quite understand it.
Jetzt verstehe ich es besser.
Now I understand it better.
Skills You'll Learn
Asking someone to repeat or explain something again politely
Höflich darum bitten, etwas noch einmal zu erklären
Saying that you do not fully understand yet
Sagen, dass man etwas noch nicht ganz versteht
Following step-by-step explanations and responding when understanding improves
Schritt-für-Schritt-Erklärungen folgen und sagen, dass man es besser versteht
Lesson Roleplay
Imagine you are asking a teacher or helpful friend to explain something again because you still do not fully understand it, and they patiently break it down into simple steps until it becomes clearer.
Kannst du das bitte noch mal erklären?
Can you please explain that again?
Klar, kein Problem.
Sure, no problem.
Ich verstehe es noch nicht ganz.
I still don't quite understand it.
Okay, ich sage es einfacher.
Okay, I'll explain it more simply.
Zuerst machen wir Schritt eins.
First, we do step one.
Lesson Vocabulary & Phrases
Kannst du das bitte
kahnst doo dahs BIT-tuh
Can you please
Noch mal erklären?
nokh mahl air-KLAIR-en
Explain it again?
💬 [noch mal] is the everyday spoken/written short form of [noch einmal], both meaning "again." You can swap it into lots of requests: [Können Sie das noch mal sagen?]
See breakdown →Kannst du das bitte noch mal erklären?
kahnst doo dahs BIT-tuh nokh mahl air-KLAIR-en
Can you please explain that again?
💬 In yes/no questions, the verb comes first: [Kannst du ...?] instead of [Du kannst ...]. The same pattern works with other verbs too: [Hast du das gesehen?]
See breakdown →Klar
klahr
Sure
🇩🇪 [Klar] is casual and very common with coworkers who are on [du] terms. In a more formal workplace tone, [Gerne] or [natürlich] can sound a bit more polished.
See breakdown →Kein Problem
kine pro-BLAYM
No problem
Klar, kein Problem.
klahr kine pro-BLAYM
Sure, no problem.
Ich verstehe
ikh fer-SHTAY-uh
I understand
Es noch nicht ganz
ess nokh nikht gahnts
It yet not completely
💬 German often stacks small meaning words after the object: [es noch nicht ganz] = "it still not quite." [noch nicht] means "not yet / still not," and [ganz] softens it to "not completely."
See breakdown →Ich verstehe es noch nicht ganz.
ikh fer-SHTAY-uh ess nokh nikht gahnts
I still don't quite understand it.
💬 [noch nicht ganz] is a useful softener: it means "not quite yet," not a blunt "I don't understand." You can reuse it with other verbs: [Ich weiß es noch nicht ganz.]
See breakdown →Learn this vocabulary list the easy way
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