Which one should you use?
While you may see compris used alone in very casual speech, J'ai compris is the standard way to express 'I got it' within a complete sentence. If you want to say 'it is understood' or confirm that an instruction has been clearly understood, you can use C'est compris.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Compris can be used as a blunt, informal way to ask 'Got it?' when used as the question Compris ? For more formal situations, you can use C'est noté to indicate you have taken note of something or Je saisis to formally state that you have grasped a concept. In informal settings, you might hear younger generations use J'ai pigé or the expression Ça roule.
How does it change in a sentence?
compris is the past participle of the verb comprendre, which means 'to understand'.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of compris is /kɔ̃.pʁi/. It has two syllables.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using the present tense Je comprends to mean 'I got it' when referring to a specific point that was just made. Instead, use J'ai compris to naturally confirm you have grasped that specific information.
When do people say it?
In French, you can express understanding or agreement using OK or the informal D'accord (meaning 'okay').
Did you know?
- While compris means 'understood', it is also used to mean 'included', as in petit-déjeuner compris for 'breakfast included'.
- If you use the single word Compris ? as a question to someone, it can sound quite aggressive or bossy, much like a drill sergeant barking 'Got it?' at a soldier.
- The informal alternative J'ai pigé uses the verb piger, which originally meant 'to pick up' or 'to grab' a piece of fruit.
Examples in context
- Je crois avoir compris.I think I've got it.This sentence is useful for expressing that you think you have understood.Tatoeba #778531 by felix63, translation #778532 by CM
- Tu as compris de travers.You've got it wrong.This sentence is useful for saying someone has misunderstood something.Tatoeba #2187298 by sacredceltic, translation #2547963 by CK
- T'as compris, désormais ?Have you got it yet?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has understood yet.Tatoeba #3884688 by sacredceltic, translation #3731783 by CM
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa is explaining a new rule to Hugo at work.
- LéaIl ne faut pas oublier le code.You must not forget the code.
- HugoC'est compris, Léa.Got it, Léa.
- LéaTu es sûr ?Are you sure?
- HugoOui, j'ai bien compris.Yes, I understood clearly.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry compris, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
