Inklingo

How to Say "understands" in Spanish

English → Spanish

entiende

en-TYEN-deh/enˈtjen.de/

verbA1general
Use 'entiende' when referring to the general act of understanding a situation, a person's feelings, or a reason why something is happening.
A cheerful person with a bright, glowing lightbulb floating directly above their head, representing a moment of sudden understanding.

Examples

Ella no entiende por qué estás triste.

She doesn't understand why you are sad.

¿Usted entiende cómo funciona la máquina?

Do you (formal) understand how the machine works?

El niño entiende el español pero responde en inglés.

The boy understands Spanish but responds in English.

Two Uses of 'Entiende'

'Entiende' is used for 'He/She/It understands' and 'You (formal) understand' in the present time. It is also the formal way to give a direct command: 'Understand!'

The E → IE Change

This verb is irregular because the 'e' in the middle changes to 'ie' in most present tense forms, like 'entiende' and 'entiendo'. However, 'nosotros' (we) and 'vosotros' (you plural Spain) keep the original 'e': 'entendemos'.

Missing the Stem Change

Mistake: “Using *entendemos* instead of *entiende* for 'He understands'.”

Correction: The correct form is *entiende*. Remember to change E to IE unless you are using the 'we' or 'you plural (Spain)' forms.

comprende

kom-PREN-de/komˈpɾende/

verbA1general
Use 'comprende' when emphasizing a deeper cognitive grasp or a more profound understanding of a concept, idea, or complex situation.
A child with a wide smile and bright eyes, standing next to a large, glowing lightbulb floating above their head, indicating a sudden realization or understanding.

Examples

Ella comprende la situación perfectamente.

She understands the situation perfectly.

Mi jefe no comprende el problema de la logística.

My boss doesn't understand the logistics problem.

Si usted comprende las reglas, podemos empezar.

If you (formal) understand the rules, we can start.

Verb Ending Pattern

Since 'comprender' is an -ER verb, its 'he/she/it' form in the present tense always ends in -E, just like 'come' (eats) or 'bebe' (drinks).

Formal 'You'

Remember that 'usted' (the formal way to say 'you') always uses the same verb form as 'él' or 'ella', so 'usted comprende' means 'you understand'.

Confusing Tenses

Mistake: “Él comprendió ahora.”

Correction: Él comprende ahora. ('Comprendió' is the past tense; 'comprende' is the present.)

Choosing between 'entiende' and 'comprende'

Learners often use 'comprende' too broadly. While it implies deeper understanding, 'entiende' is the more common, everyday verb for simply grasping something. Stick to 'entiende' unless you specifically want to highlight a profound or intellectual comprehension.

Related Translations

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