Cool MateSay that again vs What did you say
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Say that again
InformalTop 1,000 (very common)
What did you say
Top 2,000 (common)
Most formal: What did you sayMost common: Say that again
| Say that again | What did you say | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //seɪ ðət əˈɡɛn//🇺🇸 //seɪ ðæt əˈɡɛn// | 🇬🇧 //wɒt dɪd jʊ seɪ//🇺🇸 //wɑt dɪd jə seɪ// |
| Meaning | Repeat what you just said. | A question asking someone to repeat what they said. |
| Example | Could you **say that again**? I didn't catch it. | I didn’t catch that; what did you say? |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | 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 | What did you just say?, What did you say again?, What did you say next? |
| Common mistakes | Using it in formal conversations when it's not appropriate., Forgetting to use 'please' to sound more polite., Mispronouncing 'that' leading to confusion. | Using 'What did you said?' instead of 'What did you say?', Forgetting to use intonation for questions., Confusing with 'What are you saying?' which can imply ongoing speech. |
| Usage notes | 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. | Used in conversations when the speaker did not hear or understand something. Appropriate in most informal and formal contexts. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Say that again vs What did you say
What's the difference between Say that again and What did you say?
Say that again: Repeat what you just said. What did you say: A question asking someone to repeat what they said.
Which is more formal: Say that again and What did you say?
What did you say is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Say that again and What did you say?
Say that again is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Say that again: Could you **say that again**? I didn't catch it. What did you say: I didn’t catch that; what did you say?
Can I use Say that again and What did you say interchangeably?
Not always. Say that again and What did you say 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.