I Don’t Understand in Italian: Non Capisco and 5 Rescue Phrases
A0 · Lesson 04 · Survival phrases
Six rescue phrases. Lost in a conversation? These bring you back.
Quick answer
To say I don’t understand in Italian, use Non capisco. Then ask: Può ripetere, per favore? (Can you repeat, please?) or Più piano, per favore (Slower, please). To ask about words: Come si dice … in italiano? (How do you say … in Italian?), Cosa significa …? (What does … mean?) and Come si scrive? (How do you spell it?).
I don’t understand in Italian: Non capisco
Phrase number one. Learn it as a block.
Capisco
kah-PEES-koh
I understand.
EveryoneNon capisco
nohn kah-PEES-koh
I don’t understand.
Everyone💡 In simple words
Put non in front and the sentence becomes a “no”:
capisco (I understand) → non capisco (I don’t understand)
It is non, with an n at the end. Not “no capisco”. For now, just learn the whole block.
Can you repeat? Slower, please
Two polite requests. Perfect for strangers, waiters, shopkeepers.
Può ripetere, per favore?
PWOH ree-PEH-teh-reh, pehr fah-VOH-reh
Can you repeat, please?
PolitePiù piano, per favore
PYOO PYAH-noh, pehr fah-VOH-reh
Slower, please.
EveryoneThe rescue combo
Scusi, non capisco. Può ripetere, per favore?
SKOO-zee, nohn kah-PEES-koh. PWOH ree-PEH-teh-reh, pehr fah-VOH-reh? · Sorry, I don’t understand. Can you repeat, please?
Swap the request: Più piano, per favore.
Say the r in ripetere with one quick tap of the tongue, not the American r.
Più piano, per favore? Amico, I was born piano.
Asking about words: Come si dice? Cosa significa?
Three questions that turn every Italian into your teacher.
Come si dice … in italiano?
KOH-meh see DEE-cheh … een ee-tah-LYAH-noh
How do you say … in Italian?
Cosa significa …?
KOH-zah see-NYEE-fee-kah
What does … mean?
Come si scrive?
KOH-meh see SKREE-veh
How do you spell it? / How do you write it?
Fill the gap
Come si dice “water” in italiano?
How do you say “water” in Italian? – Acqua! (AHK-kwah)
Swap the English word: “coffee” “ice cream” “thank you”
Cosa significa “acqua”?
What does “acqua” mean? – Water!
In real life: the fast-talking professor
Prof. Rossi
professor
Buongiornobenvenutiallalezione!
(Way too fast.)
you
Scusi, non capisco. Più piano, per favore.
Sorry, I don’t understand. Slower, please.
Prof. Rossi
professor
Buongiorno… benvenuti… alla lezione!
Good morning… welcome… to the lesson!
you
Grazie! Cosa significa “benvenuti”?
Thank you! What does “benvenuti” mean?
Prof. Rossi
professor
“Welcome”!
“Welcome”!
Two rescue phrases, and the lesson is saved.
Common mistakes English speakers make
I don’t understand: No capisco. → Non capisco.
“No” stands alone (no, grazie). Before a verb, it is non.
Saying ripetere with an American r: rr-ih-PEE-ter → ree-PEH-teh-reh
Tap the tongue for the r, and say every vowel, including the last e.
Just nodding and smiling: (nod) → Può ripetere, per favore?
Italians are happy to repeat. Asking is polite, pretending is risky (you may agree to a second dessert).
What Italians say: “Come, scusi?”
👂 Come, scusi?
Come, scusi? (KOH-meh, SKOO-zee) = Sorry? / Pardon? when you didn’t hear. Short, polite and very Italian.
🙌 They like it
Italians love it when you try. Ask Come si dice…? and most people will happily teach you a word, plus two more you didn’t ask for.
Tip: start every rescue with scusi. It makes everything sound polite.
I wore my best disguise. Then I said “Non capisco”, with the N. Everybody thought I was from Rome.
Step 6 · Practice
🍕 Your turn
Start with a quick warm-up, then press Check. Want more? Open the extra exercises below. Mistakes are part of it. No pressure.
Warm-up · 5 questions
What does it mean? Choose.
1. Non capisco.
2. Più piano, per favore.
3. Può ripetere, per favore?
4. Come si scrive?
5. Cosa significa?
See more exercises · 36 questions ▾Hide the extra exercises ▴
1 · Which phrase do you need?
Choose the rescue phrase for each situation.
1. The waiter speaks very, very fast.
2. A bus passed and you didn’t hear the question.
3. The waiter says “ecco” and you don’t know the word.
4. You need a fork but don’t know the Italian word.
5. A new friend tells you her name. You want to write it in your phone.
6. Someone asks you a long question. You understand nothing.
7. You spilled your coffee and need a napkin.
8. The hotel receptionist says the name of the street. You want to look it up.
2 · Right or wrong?
Is the Italian correct?
1. “No capisco.”
2. “Non capisco.”
3. “Come si dice ‘bill’ in italiano?”
4. “Cosa significa ‘water’ in italiano?” (you want the Italian word for water)
5. “Più piano, per favore.” to someone who talks fast
6. “Scusi, può ripetere?” to a stranger
7. “Come si scrive?” means “How do you say it?”
8. “Come, scusi?” means “Sorry? / Pardon?”
3 · Complete the phrase
Choose the missing word.
1. Non ___.
2. Può ___, per favore?
3. Più ___, per favore.
4. Come si ___ “water” in italiano?
5. Cosa ___ “gelato”?
6. Come si ___? (How do you spell it?)
7. ___ capisco.
8. Come si dice “bill” in ___?
4 · What comes next?
Choose the best reply.
1. “Come si dice ‘water’ in italiano?”
2. “Cosa significa ‘gelato’?”
3. The waiter repeats slowly. You finally understand. You say…
4. “Mi scusi, sa dov’è la stazione?” (you heard only noise)
5 · Write it in Italian
Type the phrase. Capital letters and punctuation don’t matter. An apostrophe counts as an accent (puo’ = può, piu’ = più).
1. I don’t understand.
2. Can you repeat, please?
3. Slower, please.
4. How do you spell it?
5. What does “ciao” mean?
6. How do you say “fork” in Italian?
7. Sorry, I don’t understand. (to a stranger)
8. I understand.
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Ci vediamo la prossima settimana! – Sì, alla prossima lezione! Ciao!
See you next week! – Yes, see you at the next lesson! Bye!
Written by Luciana
Native Italian teacher, CEDILS certified, 10,000+ lessons since 2020.
