How to Ask Someone to Repeat Themselves in Swiss German

If you do not understand something in Zurich Swiss German, the safest phrase is:

Sorry, chasch das nomal säge?

English:

Sorry, can you say that again?

High German:

Entschuldigung, kannst du das nochmals sagen?

This sounds natural in casual situations. It is short, polite, and not too formal.

If you want to be a bit more polite, write or say:

Sorry, chasch das bitte nomal säge?

English:

Sorry, can you please say that again?

High German:

Entschuldigung, kannst du das bitte nochmals sagen?

For formal situations, High German is often safer. But in everyday Swiss German conversations, these Zurich-style phrases are useful when you did not hear something, did not understand something, or need the other person to slow down.

Quick answer: useful phrases

Natural Zurich Swiss German examples

The safest phrase to use

If you only learn one phrase, use this:

Sorry, chasch das nomal säge?

English:

Sorry, can you say that again?

High German:

Entschuldigung, kannst du das nochmals sagen?

This works well because it is natural, direct, and polite enough for most casual situations.

If you want to sound slightly more polite, add bitte:

Sorry, chasch das bitte nomal säge?

English:

Sorry, can you please say that again?

High German:

Entschuldigung, kannst du das bitte nochmals sagen?

If someone speaks too fast

If the problem is speed, do not only ask them to repeat. Ask them to speak more slowly.

Chasch chli langsamer rede?

English:

Can you speak a bit more slowly?

High German:

Kannst du etwas langsamer sprechen?

A slightly softer version:

Sorry, chasch chli langsamer rede? Ich lern no Schwiizerdütsch.

English:

Sorry, can you speak a bit more slowly? I’m still learning Swiss German.

High German:

Entschuldigung, kannst du etwas langsamer sprechen? Ich lerne noch Schweizerdeutsch.

This is useful because it explains the situation without making it awkward.

If you understood the words but not the meaning

Sometimes you hear the sentence clearly, but you do not understand what the person means.

Use:

Was heisst das?

English:

What does that mean?

High German:

Was bedeutet das?

Or:

Wie meinsch das?

English:

What do you mean by that?

High German:

Wie meinst du das?

Was heisst das? asks about meaning. Wie meinsch das? asks the person to clarify what they mean.

Casual vs polite versions

Avoid just saying Was? unless you know the person well. It can sound too blunt.

Common learner mistakes

Mistake 1: Translating from English too directly

Unnatural:

Kannst du dich wiederholen?

This comes from “Can you repeat yourself?” It is understandable, but it does not sound natural for this situation.

Better:

Chasch das nomal säge?

English:

Can you say that again?

High German:

Kannst du das nochmals sagen?

Mistake 2: Using High German and calling it Swiss German

High German:

Kannst du das bitte wiederholen?

More natural Zurich Swiss German:

Chasch das bitte nomal säge?

English:

Can you please say that again?

The High German version is correct German. It is just not the most natural Zurich Swiss German version.

Mistake 3: Sounding too blunt

Too direct:

Was?

Better:

Sorry, chasch das nomal säge?

English:

Sorry, can you say that again?

Adding sorry makes the phrase softer and more natural for learners.

Mistake 4: Saying only that you do not understand

Weak:

Ich verstah nöd.

Better:

Sorry, ich han dich nöd ganz verstande. Chasch das nomal säge?

English:

Sorry, I didn’t quite understand you. Can you say that again?

High German:

Entschuldigung, ich habe dich nicht ganz verstanden. Kannst du das nochmals sagen?

The better version gives the other person a clear next action.

Mistake 5: Asking for slower speech too formally

Too formal for a casual situation:

Könnten Sie bitte langsamer sprechen?

Better in casual Swiss German:

Chasch chli langsamer rede?

English:

Can you speak a bit more slowly?

High German:

Kannst du etwas langsamer sprechen?

In a formal situation, High German may be better. In casual conversation, the Swiss German version sounds more natural.

Spelling variations and notes

Swiss German spelling varies. You may see different versions of the same phrase.

For Schriibli, the focus is natural Zurich Swiss German writing. The examples are not meant to be the only correct spellings.

Useful templates

Ask someone to repeat

Sorry, chasch das nomal säge?

English:

Sorry, can you say that again?

High German:

Entschuldigung, kannst du das nochmals sagen?

Ask someone to speak slower

Sorry, chasch chli langsamer rede?

English:

Sorry, can you speak a bit more slowly?

High German:

Entschuldigung, kannst du etwas langsamer sprechen?

Explain that you are learning Swiss German

Sorry, ich lern no Schwiizerdütsch. Chasch das nomal säge?

English:

Sorry, I’m still learning Swiss German. Can you say that again?

High German:

Entschuldigung, ich lerne noch Schweizerdeutsch. Kannst du das nochmals sagen?

Ask what a word means

Was heisst das?

English:

What does that mean?

High German:

Was bedeutet das?

Ask for High German

Chasch mer das uf Hochdütsch säge?

English:

Can you say that to me in High German?

High German:

Kannst du mir das auf Hochdeutsch sagen?

Ask for another wording

Chasch das anders säge?

English:

Can you say that differently?

High German:

Kannst du das anders sagen?

When High German is better

Use High German if you are speaking or writing in a formal setting, especially with:

• an authority
• a doctor’s office
• a school office
• a company
• a landlord you do not know well
• someone who is already using formal High German with you

A safe High German phrase is:

Entschuldigung, könnten Sie das bitte nochmals sagen?

English:

Excuse me, could you please say that again?

For casual everyday Zurich situations, Swiss German phrases like Sorry, chasch das nomal säge? are usually more natural.

Practice asking someone to repeat themselves in Schriibli

Reading examples helps, but the real skill is choosing the right phrase for the situation.

Try writing your own message in Schriibli.

You can practice prompts like:

Ask a friend to repeat what they just said.

Ask someone to speak more slowly because you are learning Swiss German.

Ask what a Swiss German word means.

Ask someone to explain something again in simpler words.

Schriibli gives you instant feedback, shows a more natural Zurich Swiss German version, and explains why it sounds better.

Try writing your own version and get instant feedback in Schriibli.