Cool MateCome again vs Pardon vs Say that again
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Come again
Top 2,000 (common)
Pardon
Top 2,000 (common)
Say that again
InformalTop 1,000 (very common)
Most common: Say that again
| Come again | Pardon | Say that again | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //kʌm əˈgɛn//🇺🇸 //kʌm əˈɡɛn// | 🇬🇧 //ˈpɑː.dən//🇺🇸 //ˈpɑrdən// | 🇬🇧 //seɪ ðət əˈɡɛn//🇺🇸 //seɪ ðæt əˈɡɛn// |
| Meaning | Please repeat what you just said. | To excuse someone for something they did wrong. | Repeat what you just said. |
| Example | Could you come again? I didn’t catch that. | Could you please PARDON my interruption during the meeting? | Could you **say that again**? I didn't catch it. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| Collocations | come again later, come again please, come again for clarity | pardon me, pardon my interruption, pardon my mistake | say that again please, can you say that again, I didn't hear you, say that again, say that again louder, please say that again |
| Antonyms | go away, leave | blame, condemn, punish | - |
| Common mistakes | Using it in very formal situations where a more serious phrase is needed., Saying it too aggressively can come off as rude. | Confused with 'forgive' - 'pardon' is more formal., Used inappropriately in casual conversations., Omitting the object, e.g., saying 'pardon?' without context. | Using it in formal conversations when it's not appropriate., Forgetting to use 'please' to sound more polite., Mispronouncing 'that' leading to confusion. |
| Usage notes | Used when asking someone to repeat something. It's polite but can be used in casual situations as well. | Use 'pardon' in formal situations or when asking for forgiveness. Less common in casual settings. | Use this phrase when you want someone to repeat something. It’s casual and appropriate with friends, but can be seen as rude in formal situations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Come again vs Pardon vs Say that again
What's the difference between Come again, Pardon, and Say that again?
Come again: Please repeat what you just said. Pardon: To excuse someone for something they did wrong. Say that again: Repeat what you just said.
Which is more common: Come again, Pardon, and Say that again?
Say that again is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Come again: Could you come again? I didn’t catch that. Pardon: Could you please PARDON my interruption during the meeting? Say that again: Could you **say that again**? I didn't catch it.
Can I use Come again, Pardon, and Say that again interchangeably?
Not always. Come again, Pardon, and Say that again are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.