What do I say if I still do not understand?

Change the question, not the volume. If a repeat failed, ask about the part: Sorry, what does that word mean? or Can you say the last part another way? Meaning is easier to answer than the same sounds again.

If the words are clear but the idea is not, say what you have and stop: I've got the deadline, but not who signs it. That gives the speaker a place to start. If it matters, ask for it in writing and read at your own speed.

When the gap is a name, ask for the spelling instead of a repeat: letters survive a noisy line better than syllables, and you get something to write down. When it is a number, say it back digit by digit and let the speaker correct one figure, because a reversed pair of digits is easy to miss and easy to catch this way.

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