Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| no entiendo | /ˌno enˈtjendo/ |
| no comprendo | /ˌno komˈpɾendo/ |
The phrase no entiendo is a simple and straightforward way to communicate that you do not understand something. Other ways to express a lack of comprehension include no caigo, which conveys the notion of not grasping or comprehending something or the more formal no alcanzo a comprender or no logro entender, the latter of which emphasizes the difficulty of understanding.
Which one should you use?
While no entiendo is the most common way to express a lack of understanding in everyday conversation, no comprendo is slightly more formal and implies a deeper level of intellectual comprehension.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, you may hear the informal phrase no pillo to mean "I don't get it" or "I don't catch on".
How does it change in a sentence?
In Spanish, the subject pronoun yo (I) is often omitted because the verb ending in entiendo already indicates the first-person singular. To change the phrase to "you don't understand" (informal), use no entiendes.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌno enˈtjendo/
What mistakes should you avoid?
While saying yo no entiendo esto is grammatically correct, including the pronoun yo can add an unnecessary emphasis. To sound more natural, simply omit the pronoun and say no entiendo.
When do people say it?
If you need someone to repeat themselves, you can politely ask, Disculpe, ¿puede repetir eso? (Excuse me, can you repeat that?).
Did you know?
- The word entiendo comes from a verb that originally meant 'to stretch' or 'to extend' in Latin. This suggests that understanding is viewed as stretching one's mind to cover the scope of an idea.
- The expression no logro entender uses the verb lograr, which typically means 'to achieve' or 'to succeed'. It frames understanding not as a passive state, but as a goal that the speaker failed to achieve.
- The verb used in no comprendo is etymologically linked to the idea of 'embracing' something.
Examples in context
- Yo no entiendo esto.I don't understand this.This sentence shows how to use no entiendo to refer to a specific thing.Tatoeba #1202222 by marcelostockle, translation #506447 by rtomharper
- No entiendo su idea.I don't understand his idea.This sentence uses no entiendo to express a lack of understanding regarding an idea.Tatoeba #3119695 by cueyayotl, translation #10251627 by LimeGreenTeknii
- No entiendo el arte.I don't understand art.This sentence uses no entiendo to express a lack of understanding regarding art.Tatoeba #10124661 by manufrutos, translation #5265481 by CK
- No entiendo lo que estás diciendoI don't understand what you're saying
- No capto la idea principalI don't get the main idea
- No pillo lo que estás tratando de explicarI don't get what you're trying to explain
- No comprendo el contexto de este informeI don't understand the context of this report
- No entiendo lo que dices, ¿podrías explicarlo de otra manera?I don't understand what you're saying, could you explain it in a different way?
- No alcanzo a comprender la lógica detrás de esta decisiónI don't understand the logic behind this decision
- No logro entender los detalles de este proyectoI can't understand the details of this project
- 135 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are discussing a complicated project.
- LucíaLo siento, no entiendo esta parte.I'm sorry, I don't understand this part.
- MateoPuedo explicártelo otra vez, Lucía.I can explain it to you again, Lucía.
- LucíaGracias, Mateo. Ahora sí está claro.Thanks, Mateo. Now it's clear.
- MateoDe nada, me alegro mucho.You're welcome, I'm very glad.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I don't understand” translations and entries no entiendo, no comprendo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
