Grammar fix
repay
return borrowed money
To give back money that you borrowed from a person or organisation.
How oftenCommon
LevelB2
Used inSpeech & writing
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
She is still repaying the loan she took out to buy her flat.
I'm still repaying my student loan, so I try not to borrow money for anything else, even a new phone.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: I need to repay back the loan.
Say: I need to repay the loan.
'Repay' already includes the meaning of 'back', so do not add 'back' after it.
Don't confuse it
Other ways to say it
Return money you owe
How formalCasualMore formal
settle upClear what you owe, often between friends or after sharing expenses.pay backReturn money borrowed from a person or organisation.
repayYou're here · Loans and borrowed money, especially in more formal explanations.