Ways to say it
| Greek | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| καταλαβαίνω | katalavaíno | /ka.ta.laˈve.no/ |
| κατανοώ | katanoó |
You use these words to express the act of grasping the meaning of something. In casual speech, you might hear the colloquial phrase Δεν πιάνω, which literally means 'I don't catch', to express that you do not understand. Conversely, you can ask Πιάνεις. to mean 'Do you get it?' or 'Do you understand?'
Which one should you use?
While καταλαβαίνω is the standard way to say 'understand', the form κατανοώ is more formal and implies a deeper level of comprehension or the grasping of a complex concept.
How does it change in a sentence?
The imperfective form καταλαβαίνω (to understand/be understanding) changes to the perfective form κατάλαβα (understood) when you are describing a completed act of understanding in the past.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is katalavaíno. It has 5 syllables, and the stress is on the 4th syllable: /ka.ta.laˈve.no/.
When do people say it?
In conversation, saying Κατάλαβα is a common way to signal that you have grasped a piece of information or an instruction.
Did you know?
- The verb καταλαβαίνω is a linguistic descendant of the Ancient Greek καταλαμβάνω, which originally meant 'to seize' or 'to capture' physically.
- In Greek, the phrase Κατάλαβα is often used as a standalone conversational marker to signal that a listener is following along, rather than just answering a question.
Examples in context
- Δεν καταλαβαίνω τι λέτε.I don't understand what you are saying.This sentence is useful for saying you don't understand what someone is saying using καταλαβαίνω.Tatoeba #1708796 by glavkos, translation #409433 by CK
- Δεν το καταλαβαίνω αυτό.I don't understand this.This sentence shows how to use καταλαβαίνω to express that you don't understand a specific thing.Tatoeba #2666939 by Zeus, translation #506447 by rtomharper
- Δεν καταλαβαίνω τι θέλει.I don't understand what he wants.This sentence uses καταλαβαίνω to express that you don't understand what someone else wants.Tatoeba #5544728 by Zeus, translation #1416175 by Shishir
- Πιάνεις το νόημα;Do you get the point?
- 45 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Eleni and Giorgos are discussing a complex topic.
- Ελένη EleniΕίναι δύσκολο, το καταλαβαίνω.Einai dyskolo, to katalavaino.It is difficult, I understand it.
- Γιώργος GiorgosΝαι, είναι πολύ περίπλοκο.Nai, einai poly periploko.Yes, it is very complicated.
- Ελένη EleniΤώρα το καταλαβαίνω καλύτερα.Tora to katalavaino kalitera.Now I understand it better.
- Γιώργος GiorgosΧαίρομαι που βοήθησα.Charomai pou voithisa.I am glad I helped.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “understand” translations and entries καταλαβαίνω, κατανοώ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries καταλαβαίνω, κατανοώ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
