Sólo quiero entender esto.
I just want to understand this.
When a situation won't add up in your head, this is how you ask for it to finally make sense, with entender in the infinitive after quiero.
From Identidad peligrosa · Spanish audio
Spanish vocabularyA1 · Beginner
How to say "understand" in Spanish
entender
verbstem change: e to ieI understand: entiendosynonym: comprender
"To understand" in Spanish is entender. In the present tense its stem changes: entiendo (I understand), entiendes, entiende, but entendemos (we understand). Comprender is a close synonym, and speakers everywhere use both.
Hear "entender" in real movie scenes
The infinitive, then a conjugated form. Each video starts and stops on that line.
Creo que no lo entiende.
I don't think they get it.
Creo que comes first here, so the verb after it stays in its normal present form: entiende.
From Suits · Spanish audio
Entender in the present tense
Six forms. Four of them get the ie.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| yo entiendo | I understand |
| tú entiendes | you understand |
| él, ella, usted entiende | he or she understands, you (formal) understand |
| nosotros entendemos | we understand |
| vosotros entendéis | you all understand (Spain) |
| ellos, ustedes entienden | they understand, you all understand |
Tip: The past tense drops the ie again: entendí means "I understood", and ¿Entendiste? means "Did you get it?".
Grammar: entender, entiendo
Four patterns you'll use with this verb.
The e turns into ie
When the stress falls on the stem, e becomes ie: entiendo, entiendes, entienden. In entendemos the stress moves, so the e stays.Lo for "it"
Spanish puts lo before the verb where English says "it" after it: No lo entiendo. I don't understand it.Creo que or no creo que
Creo que lo entiende takes the normal form. No creo que lo entienda expresses doubt, and the verb switches to the subjunctive.Got it?
¿Entiendes? checks that someone is following you. The one-word reply Entendido means "Understood" or "Got it".Example sentences
Sentences from the Wordy Spanish course. Tap to listen.
Sólo quiero entender esto.
I just want to understand this.
No creo que lo entienda.
I don't think he understands it.
Seguramente puedes entender eso.
Surely you can understand that.
Con la fiebre es difícil entender la situación.
With the fever, it's hard to understand the situation.
Common mistakes
Mistakes learners make with this word, and how to fix them.
✗Yo entendo
✓Yo entiendo
The yo form carries the stress on the stem, so it needs the ie.
✗No creo que lo entiende
✓No creo que lo entienda
Doubt with no creo que calls for the subjunctive form entienda.
✗Entiendo lo
✓Lo entiendo
With a conjugated verb, lo goes in front of it.
Real conversation: does Mateo get it?
A short dialog between coworkers at the office.
At the office, your coworker Lucas wants to know if Mateo, the new hire, understands the matter.
Oye, ¿tú crees que Mateo entiende el asunto?
Hey, do you think Mateo understands the issue?
No creo que lo entienda.
I don't think he understands it.
Pues yo creo que sí.
Well, I think he does.
Your turn to answer
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How to remember it
Entender comes from the same Latin verb as English intend, which meant to turn your mind toward something. Understanding starts when you point your attention at it.
Questions about "understand" in Spanish
How do you say understand in Spanish?
Entender. "I understand" is entiendo, and the synonym comprender gives you comprendo.
How do you say "I don't understand" in Spanish?
No entiendo. To ask for a repeat, add ¿Puede repetirlo, por favor?
How do you say "do you understand" in Spanish?
¿Entiendes? with a friend and ¿Entiende? with someone you call usted. ¿Me entiendes? means "Do you understand me?"
What's the difference between entender and comprender?
Most of the time they mean the same thing. Entender is more common in everyday speech, and comprender can also mean "to include".
