entender
“entender” means “to understand” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to understand
Also: to comprehend, to get
📝 In Action
No entiendo la pregunta.
A1I don't understand the question.
¿Entiendes lo que digo?
A2Do you understand what I'm saying?
Por fin entendí la película después de verla dos veces.
B1I finally understood the movie after watching it twice.
to believe
Also: to be of the opinion, to take it that
📝 In Action
Entiendo que no es fácil, pero debemos intentarlo.
B1I understand (believe) that it's not easy, but we must try.
Según entiendo, la reunión es mañana a las diez.
B2As I understand it (I believe), the meeting is tomorrow at ten.
El director entendió que era mejor posponer la decisión.
B2The director was of the opinion that it was better to postpone the decision.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: entender
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'entender' to mean 'to believe' or 'to be of the opinion'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'intendere', which meant 'to stretch out' or 'to direct one's attention toward'. The idea evolved from 'directing your mind' at something to figuring it out and finally, to understanding it.
First recorded: 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the real difference between 'entender' and 'comprender'?
They are very close and often interchangeable, so don't worry too much! Think of it this way: 'entender' is about getting the facts, like understanding a sentence or a math problem. 'Comprender' suggests a deeper, more complete understanding, like comprehending a difficult situation or someone's feelings. If you're ever unsure, 'entender' is the more common and safer choice for everyday situations.
Is 'entender' always a stem-changing verb?
It's a stem-changing verb (e -> ie) in the present tense (yo entiendo, tú entiendes...) except for the 'nosotros' and 'vosotros' forms (entendemos, entendéis). In most other tenses like the past (preterite, imperfect) and future, it's perfectly regular, which makes it a bit easier to learn!
Can 'entenderse' mean something different?
Yes! When you add 'se' to make it 'entenderse', it can mean 'to be understood' or 'to get along with someone'. For example, 'El español se entiende en muchos países' (Spanish is understood in many countries) or 'Mis hermanos y yo nos entendemos bien' (My siblings and I get along well).