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How to Say ‘Could you repeat your surname, please?’ in Italian

Mi ripete il cognome, per favore?

mee ree-PEH-teh eel koh-NYOH-meh pehr fah-VOH-reh

[mee ree-PEH-teh eel koh-NYOH-meh pehr fah-VOH-reh]

🇮🇹 In Italy: Italians spell names over the phone using city names: A come Ancona "A as in Ancona". Learning a few will save you on every call.

Phrase Breakdown

Mi ripete il cognome,

mee ree-PEH-teh eel koh-NYOH-meh

Could you repeat the surname,

'Ripete' is the formal 'you repeat'. 'Gn' in 'cognome' sounds like the 'ny' in 'canyon': co-NYO-me.

Example

Mi ripete il nome?

Could you repeat the name?

Words in this phrase

[mee]

to me

Indirect object pronoun meaning to me; used to express personal reaction.

Example

Nella frase Mi fa piacere, Mi indica la persona che prova la sensazione.

In the phrase 'Mi fa piacere,' 'Mi' indicates the person feeling the emotion.

ripete

[ree-PEH-teh]

(you) repeat (formal)

Formal 'you' form of 'ripetere', to repeat.

Example

Può ripete la domanda?

Can you repeat the question?

[eel]

the

Masculine singular definite article used before a masculine singular noun.

Example

Nella frase Il tempo personale, Il introduce il concetto di tempo privato.

In the phrase 'Il tempo personale,' 'Il' introduces the concept of private time.

cognome

[koh-NYOH-meh]

surname

Family name, as opposed to 'nome' (first name).

Example

Qual è il suo cognome?

What is your surname?

per favore?

pehr fah-VOH-reh

please?

A polite closing. The stress falls on 'VO': fa-VO-re.

Example

Un caffè, per favore.

A coffee, please.

Words in this phrase

per

[pehr]

for

A preposition used to explain purpose or reason.

Example

Sono qui per conoscere nuove aziende.

I am here to get to know new companies.

favore

[fah-VOH-reh]

favor

Noun meaning favor; with 'per' it means 'please'.

Example

Mi fai un favore?

Can you do me a favor?

Guides for Italian learners

Duolingo vs Busuu: Which Is Better for Actually Improving?Duolingo vs Busuu compared: a free gamified habit versus structured levels with corrections from native speakers. Which to choose, and when to use both.

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