entiendo español
/entjendo espaɲol/from spelling rules
The phrase "I understand spanish" in Spanish is entiendo español.
entiendo español is used to state that you are able to comprehend the Spanish language. Note that while this phrase indicates comprehension, it does not necessarily mean you can speak the language fluently. To express fluency, you would use hablo español.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word entiendo is the first-person singular present indicative form of the verb entender (to understand). In Spanish, the subject pronoun yo (I) is often omitted in the phrase entiendo español because the verb ending -o already indicates that the subject is "I".
Did you know?
- The term 'español' is thought to be related to a Punic word that literally means 'coast of hyraxes'.
- While entiendo español describes a language, the word entiendo comes from the verb entender, which shares a root with the English word 'intend'.
Examples in context
- Entiendo español, pero no lo hablo muy bien.I understand Spanish, but I don't speak it very well.
- Si me hablas despacio, entiendo español.If you speak to me slowly, I understand Spanish.
- No te preocupes, entiendo español.Don't worry, I understand Spanish.
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are meeting for the first time.
- LucíaHola, ¿hablas español?Hello, do you speak Spanish?
- AlejandroNo hablo muy bien, pero entiendo español.I don't speak very well, but I understand Spanish.
- Lucía¡Qué bien, Alejandro!That's great, Alejandro!
- AlejandroGracias, Lucía.Thank you, Lucía.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries español, CC BY-SA 4.0.
