Which one should you use?
In casual conversation, you can drop the subject você and simply say entende? to mean "do you understand?" The shortened Entendeu? is also an informal way to ask the same thing in both Brazil and Portugal.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
To ask an older person or someone in a position of authority if they understand, replace você with o senhor (male) or a senhora (female). For an informal version in Brazil among friends, you can say Você sacou? which means "Did you get it?"
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Portugal, Compreende o que eu disse? is a formal phrase used to ask "Do you comprehend what I said?" The phrase Tás a perceber? is an informal expression specific to Portugal that means "Are you understanding?"
When do people say it?
The most common way to respond to confirm comprehension is to say Entendi, which means "I understood".
Did you know?
- The word você evolved from the phrase vossa mercee, which literally means 'your mercy'.
- In Portugal, the verb perceber is far more common than entender for general comprehension, whereas in Brazil entender dominates.
- The Brazilian slang sacou? comes from the verb sacar, which means 'to pull out' or 'to draw' a weapon or a card.
Examples in context
- Preste atenção, por favor. Você entendeu a lição?Pay attention, please. Do you understand the lesson?
- Eu expliquei tudo sobre o plano. Você sacou?I explained everything about the plan. Did you get it?
- A regra é simples, você entende?The rule is simple, do you understand?
- Se eu falar devagar, você entende?If I speak slowly, do you understand?
Example conversation
Camila is explaining a task to Felipe at work.
- CamilaFelipe, você precisa enviar o relatório agora. Você entende?Felipe, you need to send the report now. Do you understand?
- FelipeSim, Camila. Eu envio agora mesmo.Yes, Camila. I'll send it right now.
- CamilaÓtimo, pois o prazo termina hoje.Great, because the deadline is today.
- FelipeTudo certo, pode deixar.All set, leave it to me.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries você, CC BY-SA 4.0.
