How to Say ‘Can you please explain that again?’ in German
Kannst du das bitte noch mal erklären?
kahnst doo dahs BIT-tuh nokh mahl air-KLAIR-en
[kahnst doo dahs BIT-tuh nokh mahl air-KLAIR-en]
💬 Usage Tip: 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?]
Phrase Breakdown
Kannst du das bitte
kahnst doo dahs BIT-tuh
Can you please that
A polite request asking someone to do or say something.
Kannst du das bitte langsamer sagen?
Can you please say that more slowly?
Words in this phrase
Kannst
[kahnst]
can
Question form of "können" with "du," used to ask someone to do something.
Kannst du das bitte noch mal erklären?
Can you please explain that again?
du
[doo]
you
Informal singular "you" for speaking directly to one person.
Kannst du das bitte noch mal erklären?
Can you please explain that again?
das
[dahs]
that
Points to the thing or topic being discussed.
Kannst du das bitte noch mal erklären?
Can you please explain that again?
bitte
[BIT-tuh]
please
Makes the question polite and suitable for workplace use.
Kannst du das bitte noch mal erklären?
Can you please explain that again?
Noch mal erklären?
nokh mahl air-KLAIR-en
explain it again?
Requests a repetition or clearer explanation.
Kannst du das noch mal erklären?
Can you explain that again?
Words in this phrase
noch
[nokh]
again / still
Here, together with "mal," it means "again" or "one more time."
Kannst du das bitte noch mal erklären?
Can you please explain that again?
mal
[mahl]
time / once
Combined with "noch" to form "noch mal," meaning "one more time."
Kannst du das bitte noch mal erklären?
Can you please explain that again?
erklären
[air-KLAIR-en]
to explain
Verb meaning to make something understandable by giving details.
Kannst du das bitte noch mal erklären?
Can you please explain that again?
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