Cool MateRepeat vs Say again
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Repeat
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Say again
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Repeat
| Repeat | Say again | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈpiːt/","/rɪˈpiːts/","/rɪˈpiːtɪd/","/rɪˈpiːtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈpiːt/","/rɪˈpiːts/","/rɪˈpiːtɪd/","/rɪˈpiːtɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //seɪ əˈɡɛn//🇺🇸 //seɪ əˈɡɛn// |
| Meaning | To say or do something again. | To repeat something that was just said. |
| Example | Please repeat the instructions so everyone understands. | I didn't catch that, could you please say again? |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | just, merely, simply, can only, be necessary to, need to, after, to, keep repeating somebody/something, just, merely, simply, can only, be necessary to, need to, after, to, keep repeating somebody/something, just, merely, simply, can only, be necessary to, need to, after, to, keep repeating somebody/something, just, merely, simply, can only, be necessary to, need to, after, to, keep repeating somebody/something, just, merely, simply, can only, be necessary to, need to, after, to, keep repeating somebody/something | ask to say again, hard to say again, quickly say again |
| Antonyms | stop, ignore, forget | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'replay' (for videos), Using 'repeated' instead of 'repeat' when requesting action, Misplacing the object, e.g., 'repeat me' instead of 'repeat this' | Using 'say again' in overly formal situations; better to use 'Could you repeat that?', Confusing 'say again' with 'say it again'; 'say again' is more concise. |
| Usage notes | Use 'repeat' when asking someone to say something again. It's generally neutral and appropriate in most contexts, but avoid using in very formal writing. | Use 'say again' in conversations when you want clarification. It's polite and neutral, appropriate in both casual and formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Repeat vs Say again
What's the difference between Repeat and Say again?
Repeat: To say or do something again. Say again: To repeat something that was just said.
Which is more common: Repeat and Say again?
Repeat is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Repeat: Please repeat the instructions so everyone understands. Say again: I didn't catch that, could you please say again?
Can I use Repeat and Say again interchangeably?
Not always. Repeat and Say 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.