je comprends
To say I understand in French, showing that you grasp the meaning of something, use je comprends.
je comprends works for understanding a rule, an explanation or someone's feelings, as in Je comprends ton souci, I understand your concern. It is polite and fits any situation.
Which one should you use?
Je saisis means I grasp or I get it. Je pige and J'ai capté are casual ways to say I get it. je comprends means you grasp the meaning, so if you want to say that you agree with an opinion, use a phrase meaning I agree instead.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Je saisis is formal. Je pige is slang, and J'ai capté is also informal.
How does it change in a sentence?
The negative form is je ne comprends pas, meaning I do not understand.
When do people say it?
To check that someone has understood, a speaker may ask compris ?, which means understood? Or got it?
Did you know?
- While je comprends is used for intellectual understanding, French speakers use the verb s'entendre to say they 'understand' or get along with another person's personality.
- The verb in je comprends is a direct descendant of the Latin 'comprehendere', which meant to seize or hold something in one's hands, reflecting the idea of 'grasping' an idea.
- To say you 'get it' in a trendy, youthful way, you can say j'ai capté, which treats the incoming information like a radio signal being caught by a receiver.
Examples in context
- Je comprends la règle.I understand the rule.Je comprends la règle says that the rule is clear to you.Tatoeba #6210361 by Aiji, translation #4499862 by CK
- Je comprends ton souci.I understand your concern.Je comprends ton souci shows understanding of someone's worry.Tatoeba #4595843 by sacredceltic, translation #1777728 by Spamster
- Oui, je comprends. Merci.Yes, I understand. Thank you.Oui, je comprends confirms understanding before saying thanks.Tatoeba #449508 by chtof, translation #403080 by Ramses
- 132 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan is explaining a new project to Emma.
- NathanC'est un projet très complexe.It is a very complex project.
- EmmaOui, je comprends, c'est difficile.Yes, I understand, it is difficult.
- NathanOn doit finir avant lundi.We must finish before Monday.
- EmmaD'accord, je comprends tout.Okay, I understand everything.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries je, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
