entiendes
/entjendes/from spelling rules
The Spanish phrase for "you understand" is entiendes.
This phrase is used to check if the listener follows or comprehends what is being said. By adding question marks, such as in ¿Entiendes?, it becomes a common way to check if the listener is following the conversation.
Which one should you use?
The form entiendes is used for a single person in an informal context. To address someone formally, use entiende. If you are asking whether a group of people understands, use the plural form entienden.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, it is common to use the word Vale to mean "Okay" or "I understand."
How does it change in a sentence?
entiendes is the second-person singular informal conjugation of the verb entender.
How do you pronounce it?
/entjendes/
Did you know?
- While entiendes is a direct way to ask if someone follows, in some Latin American countries, using it too frequently can accidentally sound patronizing, as if you are questioning the listener's intelligence.
- If you want to sound more empathetic when checking if someone understands a difficult situation, you might use ¿Me explico? which translates to 'Am I explaining myself?' instead of asking if they understand.
- To say 'I understand' in a way that means 'I see your point' or 'I empathize', Spanish speakers often use Ya veo, which literally means 'I already see'.
Examples in context
- Me entiendes muy bien.You understand me very well.This sentence shows how to use entiendes to say someone understands you well.Tatoeba #5567531 by swyter, translation #3734355 by CK
- ¿Entiendes lo que dice?Do you understand what he's saying?This example uses entiendes to ask if someone understands what is being said.Tatoeba #2194133 by Shishir, translation #1337759 by CK
- ¿Por qué no lo entiendes?Why don't you understand?This sentence uses entiendes to ask why someone does not understand.Tatoeba #1237360 by Shishir, translation #1233613 by Eldad
- 50 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A teacher explaining a math problem to her student in a classroom.
- Sofía¿Entiendes el ejercicio, Alejandro?Do you understand the exercise, Alejandro?
- AlejandroSí, Sofía, lo entiendo perfectamente.Yes, Sofía, I understand it perfectly.
- SofíaQué bueno que lo entiendes.I'm glad you understand it.
- AlejandroGracias por la explicación.Thanks for the explanation.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
