kapieren
/kaˈpiːʁən/
In German, 'get it' is translated as kapieren.
The verb kapieren is used to express the sudden realization or grasping of a concept or a joke, much like the English expression 'to get it'.
Meaning: to understand something (verb)
Which one should you use?
While kapieren is used for sudden realizations, the standard and neutral German verb for 'to understand' is verstehen.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
kapieren is an informal verb. If you are asking someone if they understood in a formal context, you can use Haben Sie verstanden? or Verstehen Sie?
How does it change in a sentence?
The simple past form of kapieren is kapierte, which means 'got it' or 'understood'.
How do you pronounce it?
/kaˈpiːʁən/
When do people say it?
In informal settings, you might hear Kapiert? used as a shorthand way to ask 'Understood?' Another way to check if someone is following a train of thought informally is to say Schnallst du?
Did you know?
- The word kapieren is a borrowed term that likely entered German via the Italian word capire.
- While kapieren is informal, using it in a professional setting can sound dismissive or impatient, as if the speaker is wondering why the listener is slow to understand.
- The informal alternative Schnallst du? literally refers to the act of fastening a buckle or a strap.
Examples in context
- Mit den Hausaufgaben habe ich Probleme. Kapiert?I'm having trouble with the homework. Get it?
- Wir werden morgen eine wichtige Präsentation haben, haben Sie verstanden?We will have an important presentation tomorrow, did you get it?
- Das ist der kompliziertere Teil des Vertrags, verstehen Sie?This is the more complex part of the contract, do you understand?
- Ich habe es nicht kapiert.I didn't get it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry kapieren, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kapieren, CC BY-SA 4.0.
