10 Ways to Say “I Don’t Understand”

Asking for clarification is one of the most important parts of any conversation. If you just say “I don’t understand” every time you get confused, you might sound impolite or frustrated. Knowing 10 Ways to Say “I Don’t Understand” allows you to be specific about your confusion and ask for help politely in different social and professional settings. This is key to keeping conversations flowing naturally!

Polite Phrases to Ask for Clarity

These expressions are divided by how formal you need to be or what specific problem is confusing you.

Polite and Formal Ways to Ask Again

These phrases are excellent for meetings, educational settings, or when speaking to someone you don’t know well. They are respectful and show you value the other person’s time.

1. Could you say that again, please?
   • Meaning & Use: This is a very common, general, and polite way to ask the speaker to repeat what they just said, usually because you missed the words, not the meaning.
   • Example: “I just mentioned the deadline is Tuesday.” → “Could you say that again, please? I didn’t hear the date.”
2. I’m not following you.
   • Meaning & Use: This means you are struggling to keep up with the line of reasoning, a series of steps, or a complex explanation. It suggests the information is moving too fast or is too complicated.
   • Example: “The new process involves three sub-steps, which then branch into four parallel tasks.” → “I’m not following you. Could we look at the flowchart?”
3. Could you explain that in more detail?
   • Meaning & Use: Use this when you understood the general topic but need more specific information, context, or elaboration to grasp the full idea.
   • Example: “We need to focus on optimizing the delivery logistics.” → “Could you explain that in more detail? What exactly needs optimizing?”
4. I’m not sure I understand what you mean.
   • Meaning & Use: A very gentle and polite way to say you don’t grasp the concept. It shifts the blame slightly away from you and onto the clarity of the statement. Great for work or formal settings.
   • Example: “The solution requires us to utilize a recursive function.” → “I’m not sure I understand what you mean. What is a ‘recursive function’?”

Casual and Common Ways to Stop

These are perfect for friendly chats, informal meetings, or when speaking to someone you know well. They are direct but not rude.

5. What was that?
   • Meaning & Use: A very quick, simple, and casual way to ask for a repetition, usually because you were distracted or the speaker spoke too quickly or softly.
   • Example: “I bought a new phone and…” → “What was that? The train was too loud.”
6. Huh?
   • Meaning & Use: The most casual and short request for repetition. Use this only with friends or family. It should be used with a friendly, questioning tone, not a frustrated one.
   • Example: “I think we should cancel the party.” → “Huh? Why would we cancel the party?”
7. Run that by me one more time.
   • Meaning & Use: This idiomatic phrase means, “Please repeat and explain that idea again.” It’s friendly and acknowledges that the idea is worth repeating.
   • Example: “The client wants the blue logo, but the green one for the website.” → “Run that by me one more time. So blue for print and green for online?”
8. I’m a little confused.
   • Meaning & Use: A direct, honest, and humble way to admit you are lost. It works well because it uses the word ‘little,’ which softens the request for help.
   • Example: “If we subtract the total cost from the net profit, we get the remainder.” → “I’m a little confused. Where does the ‘remainder’ come into play?”

Asking for a Specific Focus

These phrases focus on the part of the message that you need to be clarified.

9. Could you elaborate on [the specific topic]?
   • Meaning & Use: A polite and focused way to ask for more detail about a specific word, concept, or piece of data that you don’t understand.
   • Example: “We must align our goals with the new company directive on sustainability.” → “Could you elaborate on the new directive on sustainability?”
10. What do you mean by that?
    • Meaning & Use: Direct, simple, and effective. It questions the specific words used by the speaker, asking them to define or rephrase what they said. It’s one of the best ways to replace a simple “I Don’t Understand” when you are lost.
    • Example: “The project is currently at a standstill.” → “What do you mean by that? Is it delayed or stopped completely?”

Phrases in Conversation

Here are a few realistic dialogues showing how to use these 10 Ways to Say “I Don’t Understand” to keep communication effective.

Dialogue 1 (Professional)

Trainer: “The first step is to access the main server via the VPN, and then you’ll need the two-factor authorization token.”

Trainee: “I’m not following you. Could you tell me exactly how to access the VPN?”

Dialogue 2 (Casual)

Friend A: “They moved the meeting from the third floor to the annex conference room, which is next to the cafeteria.”

Friend B: “What was that? I was looking at my phone. Did you say the meeting moved?”

Dialogue 3 (Specific Confusion)

Chef: “We need to blanch the asparagus briefly and then shock it in an ice bath.”

Assistant: “I’m not sure I understand what you mean. What does ‘blanch’ mean in this context?”

Quick Tips for Being Clear

Problem	Recommended Expression	Why?
You missed the words (too fast/quiet)	Could you say that again, please? / What was that?	They politely ask for a simple repetition.
You missed the logic or the overall flow	I’m not following you. / I’m a little confused.	They signal that the idea itself is difficult to process.
You don’t know the meaning of a word	What do you mean by that? / Could you elaborate on [X]?	They focus the speaker on the specific point of confusion.

When you’re learning English, it’s natural and absolutely okay to be confused sometimes. Using these 10 Ways to Say “I Don’t Understand” shows that you are actively listening and trying to engage, which is always appreciated by native speakers.

Try using one of the more polite phrases, like “I’m not following you,” today in a conversation. It’s a great way to sound more professional and confident!