¿MANDE?: The Mexican Way of Saying “Huh?”—With Respect!

You’re chatting with a Mexican friend. You say something, maybe while chewing a taco or mumbling under your breath, and suddenly they reply: “¿Mande?”

No, they’re not commanding you to go do something. And no, it’s not short for mandíbula (jaw). What you’ve just heard is a very Mexican way of saying: Sorry, what did you say?

Or more precisely: I didn’t catch that, could you repeat it? But in the politest, most respectful way imaginable.

Let’s break it down.

What Does ¿MANDE? Mean?

In Mexico, ¿mande? literally comes from the verb mandar — to command. So technically, it translates to something like: Command me. Whoa. You’d think it was pulled from the script of a medieval knight drama.

But in daily Mexican Spanish, ¿mande? is just a courteous, almost reflexive way of saying *Excuse me? *or Come again? when you didn’t hear someone or want them to repeat something.

Example:

⚽ ¿Quieres más salsa?

⚽ ¿Mande?

⚽ ¡Que si quieres más salsa, hombre!

🏈 Want more salsa?

🏈 Sorry?

🏈 I said, do you want more salsa, dude!

Here, ¿mande? is polite, respectful, and not at all odd to Mexicans. In fact, if you say ¿qué? instead, people might look at you like you just insulted their grandma.

But in Other Countries… Not So Much

Now, head over to Spain, Argentina, or Colombia, and say ¿mande? after someone speaks. They’ll probably tilt their head, squint at you, and think:

“What are you talking about? Who do you think you are, a butler from the 1800s?”

In much of the Spanish-speaking world, people go for more straightforward responses like:

¿Qué? – What?

¿Cómo? – How?

¿Perdón? – Pardon?

¿Ah? – Huh?

Sometimes even combinations like: ¿Cómo dijiste? – How did you say that? ¿Perdón, qué? – Sorry, what?

Examples from Other Places:

In Argentina:

⚽ Che, ¿viste lo que dijo?

⚽ ¿Cómo? No escuché.

🏈 Hey, did you hear what he said?

🏈 What? I didn’t catch it.

In Spain:

⚽ ¿Quieres ir al cine esta noche?

⚽ ¿Qué?

🏈 Wanna go to the movies tonight?

🏈 What?

In Colombia:

⚽ Mirá ese perro con gafas.

⚽ ¿Ah?

🏈 Look at that dog with glasses.

🏈 Huh?

To Mexicans, this might sound abrupt or even a bit rude, but in those countries, it’s completely normal. Nobody’s feelings are hurt, and grandmas are safe.

Why Are Mexicans So Polite About It?

The use of ¿mande? is deeply rooted in Mexican cultural values of respect, hierarchy, and formality, especially when speaking to elders or people you don’t know well. It’s the verbal equivalent of bowing your head a little while saying “Could you please say that again, kind and noble sir?”

Even little kids are trained from early on:

⚽ ¿Qué? ¡No se dice ‘qué’! Se dice ‘¿mande?’

🏈 What? Don’t say ‘what’! Say ‘Excuse me?’

So yes, if you visit Mexico and use ¿mande?, you’ll earn instant brownie points for being polite. Bonus points if you use it with a slightly confused smile and an apologetic head tilt.

One Final Note: Watch the Tone

Yes, ¿mande? is polite. But even this noble phrase can sound rude if you yell it like you’re in a cantina brawl:

¿MANDEEEEÉ?

That’s when it stops sounding like a gentle request and starts sounding like you’re about to duel someone over a spilled michelada.

So What Should You Say?

If you’re in Mexico: Say ¿mande? and watch doors (and ears) open for you.

If you’re in Spain or Latin America outside of Mexico: Stick with ¿cómo?, ¿qué?, or ¿perdón? and you’ll blend right in.

But remember: When in doubt, say it with a smile. That’s the universal translator for “I have no idea what you just said.”