Hebrew for Misunderstandings and Clarifying What Someone Said

When you do not understand something in Hebrew, you usually do not need a long explanation. A short repair phrase is often enough to keep the conversation moving.

The most useful phrases

These are the phrases you will use most often:

• Lo hevanti — I didn’t understand.
• Efshar lechazrer? — Can you repeat that?
• Efshar bevakasha le’at? — Can you please speak slowly?
• Ma? — What?
  Very short and common, but can sound abrupt if you use it alone.
• Ma zeh omer? — What does that mean?
• Ata yakhol lefaresh? / At yakhola lefaresh? — Can you explain?
  Use ata when speaking to a man and at when speaking to a woman.
• Slicha, lo hevanti. — Sorry, I didn’t understand.

A very practical full sentence is:

• Slicha, lo hevanti. Efshar bevakasha le’at?

That means: “Sorry, I didn’t understand. Can you please speak slowly?”

A simple repair pattern

If you get lost, try this order:

1. Say you didn’t understand: Lo hevanti
2. Ask for a repeat: Efshar lechazrer?
3. Ask for slower speech: Efshar bevakasha le’at?
4. Ask about one word: Ma zeh omer?

This is usually enough in shops, on the bus, at work, or with friends.

In a shop or café

If you missed the price, the item name, or the size, you can say:

• Lo hevanti. Efshar lechazrer?
• Ma ha-mehir? — What’s the price?
• Ma zeh? — What is this?
• Efshar bevakasha le’at? — Can you please speak slowly?

If you are buying something, related pages like Hebrew for Asking Prices in Israel and Hebrew for Buying Coffee Beans and Drinks may also help.

On the bus or at a station

If you did not catch the platform, route, or stop, say:

• Slicha, lo hevanti. Eifo ha-otobus? — Sorry, I didn’t understand. Where is the bus?
• Efshar le’at? — Can you speak slowly?
• Ma zeh omer? — What does that mean?

For more transport vocabulary, see Hebrew for Bus Stops and Rav-Kav.

In a home or social setting

When someone is telling a story and you miss a detail, it is usually better to ask politely than to guess:

• Slicha, efshar lechazrer et ze? — Sorry, can you repeat that?
• Lo hevanti et ha-nokuda ha-zot. — I didn’t understand that point.
• Ma zeh omer? — What does that mean?

If you are with friends or family, a friendly repair phrase often matters more than perfect grammar. For more social language, Hebrew for Asking Favors can also be useful.

A few small tips

• Keep it short. Short phrases are easier to say under pressure.
• Repeat the word you did catch. For example: Bus? Kanyon?
• Ask for one detail only. Price, time, place, or name.
• Stay polite. A simple slicha often softens the interruption.

Practice examples

• Lo hevanti. Efshar lechazrer?
• Slicha, ma zeh omer?
• Efshar bevakasha le’at?
• Lo shama’ti et ha-shem. — I didn’t hear the name.

Final thought

You do not need to understand everything the first time. In Hebrew, being able to repair the conversation is a skill in itself. If you can say lo hevanti, ask for a repeat, and ask for slower speech, you can handle many everyday situations with confidence.