How to politely ask for clarification in Ukrainian texts
The Comprehensive Guide to Texting in Ukrainian: Excelling in Informal Communication and Abbreviations: How to politely ask for clarification in Ukrainian texts
To politely ask for clarification in Ukrainian texts, some common polite phrases include:
- “Вибачте, не могли б ви повторити, будь ласка?” — Excuse me, could you please repeat?
- “Будь ласка, могли б ви пояснити це детальніше?” — Please, could you explain this in more detail?
- “Я не зовсім розумію, чи можете ви уточнити?” — I don’t quite understand, could you clarify?
- “Чи не могли б ви прояснити цей момент, будь ласка?” — Could you clarify this point, please?
- “Перепрошую, чи можна попросити уточнення?” — Sorry to bother, may I ask for clarification?
Using polite words like “будь ласка” (please) and starting with “вибачте” (excuse me/sorry) helps maintain politeness. It is also common to phrase questions in a less direct way to sound more respectful and formal, especially using conditional phrases like “не могли б ви” (could you) rather than direct imperatives. 2, 5, 8, 11
These expressions are suitable for formal and informal written communication when seeking clarification politely in Ukrainian.