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How to Say ‘Sorry, could you repeat the surname?’ in Portuguese

Desculpe, pode repetir o apelido?

des-koo-lpe POH-jee reh-peh-TEER oo ah-peh-LEE-doo

[des-koo-lpe POH-jee reh-peh-TEER oo ah-peh-LEE-doo]

💬 Usage Tip: pode + an action is the easy polite way to ask someone to do something. Try pode soletrar? "could you spell it?" when a name is tricky.

Phrase Breakdown

Desculpe,

des-koo-lpe

Excuse me,

The formal 'sorry' or 'excuse me'. The first 'e' is barely heard: 'dsh-KUL-p'.

Example

Desculpe, onde fica a estação?

Excuse me, where is the station?

Words in this phrase

Desculpe

[des-koo-lpe]

sorry

A polite expression used to forgive or ask for forgiveness.

Example

Eu estou desculpado.

I am forgiven.

pode repetir

POH-jee reh-peh-TEER

could you repeat

'Pode' means 'can you' in the polite form. The stress in 'repetir' falls on the end: 'rr-pe-TEER'.

Example

Pode repetir, por favor?

Could you repeat, please?

Words in this phrase

pode

[POH-jee]

can

To be able to.

Example

Você pode me ajudar?

Can you help me?

repetir

[reh-peh-TEER]

to repeat

Infinitive verb meaning to say or do again.

Example

Pode repetir o número?

Can you repeat the number?

o apelido?

oo ah-peh-LEE-doo

the surname?

In Portugal, 'apelido' means 'surname', not 'nickname'. Say it 'uh-puh-LEE-du'.

Example

Qual é o seu apelido?

What is your surname?

Words in this phrase

[oo]

the

A masculine singular definite article used before nouns.

Example

O prazer de participar foi grande.

The pleasure of taking part was great.

apelido

[ah-peh-LEE-doo]

surname

In Portugal, 'apelido' means family name, not nickname.

Example

Qual é o seu apelido?

What is your surname?

Guides for Portuguese learners

The Portuguese You Actually Need in Your First Month in PortugalThe European Portuguese phrases for your first weeks in Portugal: paperwork, renting a flat, the bank, the health centre, cafés, trains and your new neighbours.

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