How do you say repeat in Spanish?
If you’re learning Spanish, one of the first verbs you’ll encounter is repetir, which directly translates to “to repeat.” Understanding how to use this word correctly—both as a verb and in its noun forms—helps you build sentences, follow instructions, and engage in everyday conversations. Below you’ll find a detailed guide that covers pronunciation, conjugation, common phrases, and tips to avoid typical mistakes, all designed to boost your confidence when you need to say “repeat” in Spanish Worth keeping that in mind..
1. The Basic Translation: Repetir
The most straightforward answer to “how do you say repeat in Spanish?” is the verb repetir. It is a regular -ir verb, meaning its conjugation follows a predictable pattern Small thing, real impact..
- Infinitive: repetir
- Present indicative (yo): repito
- Present indicative (tú): repites
- Present indicative (él/ella/usted): repite
- Present indicative (nosotros/as): repetimos
- Present indicative (vosotros/as): repetís
- Present indicative (ellos/ellas/ustedes): repiten
Note: In many Latin American regions, the vosotros form is rarely used; instead, ustedes covers both formal and informal plural “you.”
2. Conjugation Highlights
Because repetir is stem‑changing (e → i) in the present tense for most subjects, pay attention to the shift:
| Subject | Present Tense | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | repito | I repeat |
| tú | repites | you repeat |
| él/ella/usted | repite | he/she/you repeat |
| nosotros/as | repetimos | we repeat |
| vosotros/as | repetís | you all repeat |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | repiten | they/you repeat |
Not the most exciting part, but easily the most useful.
In the preterite (simple past), the stem change disappears:
- yo repetí
- tú repetiste
- él/ella/usted repitió
- nosotros/as repetimos
- vosotros/as repetisteis
- ellos/ellas/ustedes repitieron
The future and conditional forms keep the full infinitive stem:
- yo repetiré (I will repeat)
- yo repetiría (I would repeat)
3. Noun Forms: La Repetición
When you need the noun “repeat” or “repetition,” Spanish uses la repetición. This feminine noun appears in contexts such as:
- Una repetición – a repetition (e.g., of an exercise)
- En repetición – on repeat (e.g., a song playing continuously)
- Hacer una repetición – to do a repetition (common in fitness)
Example: El profesor pidió una repetición del ejercicio. (The teacher asked for a repetition of the exercise.)
4. Practical Sentences & Phrases
Seeing the word in action helps solidify usage. Below are common sentences grouped by scenario.
Classroom Instructions
- Por favor, repite la frase después de mí. (Please repeat the sentence after me.)
- Vamos a repetir el ejercicio tres veces. (We are going to repeat the exercise three times.)
Everyday Conversation
- ¿Puedes repetir eso? No lo entendí. (Can you repeat that? I didn’t understand.)
- Mi hijo siempre quiere repetir el mismo cuento antes de dormir. (My son always wants to repeat the same story before bed.)
Technology & Media
- Pon la canción en repetición. (Put the song on repeat.)
- El video se quedó en repetición automática. (The video got stuck on auto‑repeat.)
Fitness & Sports
- Haz diez repeticiones de sentadillas. (Do ten repetitions of squats.)
- El entrenador nos hizo repetir el circuito. (The trainer made us repeat the circuit.)
5. Pronunciation Guide
Correct pronunciation makes you sound natural and helps listeners understand you quickly.
- repetir: /reh-peh-TEER/
- Stress falls on the last syllable: tee
- repito: /reh-PEE-to/
- repites: /reh-PEE-tes/
- repite: /reh-PEE-te/
- repetimos: /reh-peh-TEE-mos/
- repetís: /reh-peh-TEES/ (Spain)
- repiten: /reh-PEE-ten/
Note: The Spanish “r” is a single tap (like the “tt” in American English “butter”) when it appears inside a word, and a trill when it starts a syllable or is doubled. In repetir, the initial “r” is a tap, not a full trill Not complicated — just consistent..
6. Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even advanced learners sometimes slip up with repetir. Here are the most frequent errors and how to correct them Small thing, real impact..
| Mistake | Why It’s Wrong | Correct Form |
|---|---|---|
| Using repetir as a noun directly (e.repitó). , repito vs. So naturally, , “un repetir”) | Spanish prefers the noun repetición for the concept of repetition. And ” | |
| Misplacing the accent in spoken language | Stress is crucial; mis‑stressing can change meaning (e. | una repetición |
| Forgetting the stem change in present tense (saying repeto instead of repito) | Repetir is an e → i stem‑changing verb in the present. Because of that, g. | Stress the penultimate syllable unless an accent mark indicates otherwise. So naturally, g. Think about it: |
| Confusing repetir with repetir(se) (reflexive) | The reflexive form repetirse means “to repeat oneself” or “to happen again. So | repito, repites, repite… |
| Over‑using the vosotros form in Latin America | In most Latin American countries, vosotros sounds archaic or overly formal. | Use ustedes for plural “you.” |
The official docs gloss over this. That's a mistake It's one of those things that adds up..
7. Related Vocabulary
Expanding your lexical network around “repeat” makes your speech richer.
| Spanish | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Below is a compact list of additional vocabulary that expands the theme of repetition while keeping the tone consistent with the rest of the piece.
| Spanish | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| repetir | to repeat (verb) | Core action; used in both singular and plural forms. Also, |
| repetir constantemente | to repeat constantly | Highlights frequency; useful for describing habits. That said, |
| en repetir | repeatedly | Set phrase that signals something happening over and over. |
| no repetir | not to repeat | Emphasizes avoidance of redundancy. |
| repetir la palabra | to repeat a word | Useful in teaching contexts or when practicing phonetics. On the flip side, |
| dar la vuelta al mismo tema | to go over the same topic again | Idiomatic expression for revisiting material. |
| repetición | repetition (noun) | Often refers to a recurring event or a recorded loop. |
| me repeats | me repite (reflexive) | Shows who performs the action toward the speaker. |
These terms complement the earlier entries and give readers a broader toolbox for talking about repetition in everyday conversation, media, and learning environments That's the part that actually makes a difference..
Practical Tips for Mastery
- Listen actively – Watch videos where the audio loops back to itself (e.g., a karaoke track on repeat) and note how the speaker adjusts intonation each time. This trains the ear to the rhythm of stressed syllables.
- Speak slowly at first – When you say repetir or repetir constantemente, pause after each clause. Gradual speed increase helps internalize the stress pattern without sacrificing clarity.
- Use contrast – Pair a statement that involves repetition with one that does not. For example: “Yo repito la frase tres veces” versus “No quiero que te repitas”. Hearing the difference reinforces which form carries the meaning.
- Write a short dialogue – Create two characters, A and B, arguing about whether a task should be done repeatedly. Include the target verbs and nouns from the tables above. Reading the script aloud forces you to place accents correctly.
Conclusion
Understanding the nuances of repetir opens doors to clearer communication across Spanish‑speaking domains—whether you’re setting a device to loop music, instructing a team on a training routine, or explaining why certain ideas keep resurfacing in conversation. By mastering the verb’s infinitive, its present‑tense stem changes, and the surrounding adjectives and nouns, you’ll sound more natural and be better equipped to convey repetition with precision. That said, keep practicing the pronunciation guide, watch out for the common pitfalls outlined in Section 6, and expand your lexical repertoire using the additional vocabulary provided here. With these tools in hand, you’ll be able to talk about repetition confidently and accurately, enriching both your own speech and that of anyone you address.
