Is it rude to ask someone to repeat themselves in English?

Not by itself. Asking once is ordinary. Asking the same person to repeat the same sentence three times without changing the request is what wears people down. Be specific and short: Sorry, I didn't catch the name. That names the problem, so the speaker knows what to fix, and it takes one turn instead of three.

In most English-speaking workplaces a quick clarification reads as attention, not ignorance; mumbling an answer you did not understand is harder to forgive.

Exam settings have their own rule. IELTS examiners may repeat a question or explain a word, but IDP's published guidance says candidates cannot ask for clarification over and over again. In Part 1 the examiner normally repeats the same question more clearly rather than rephrasing it, while Part 3 allows a rephrase. Knowing which part you are in tells you which repair is worth spending.

What to Say in English When You Did Not Catch What Someone Said →