Palabra Lexi · common words in Spanish
How to say "to understand" in Spanish
"To understand" in Spanish is entender, pronounced en-ten-DER (stress on the syllable in capitals). Also: comprender (to understand).
| Spanish | entender |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | en-ten-DER |
| Meaning | to understand |
| Part of speech | verb |
| Frequency | #102 in the Palabra list of common Spanish words |
Pronunciation is spelled out in English, one syllable at a time, with the stressed syllable in capitals. The speaker button uses your browser's built-in Spanish voice.
How to pronounce entender
Entender is pronounced en-ten-DER, in IPA /entenˈdeɾ/. Entender has three syllables, en-ten-DER, with the stress on the third. There is no written accent because the word follows the basic rule: words ending in a consonant other than -n or -s are stressed on the last syllable.
Listen: normal and slow speed, in your browser's Spanish voice. IPA: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.
Example sentences
Ella entiende bien.
She understands well.
No entiendo
I don't understand
"To understand" in Spain and Latin America
Useful phrases
- No entiendo.
I don't understand. - ¿Me entiendes?
Do you understand me?
Regional words and roots: Diccionario de la lengua española (RAE). Spanish varies by region, so treat these as the most common patterns, not strict rules.
How to remember entender
entender [en-ten-DER] sounds like the English “intend her”. Picture this:
You finally understand what she intends: the suitcase by the door said it first.
A sound-alike plus a vivid scene is the keyword method, a well-studied way to learn vocabulary. How it works.
Practice entender
Two quick games, right here: no sign-up, nothing is sent anywhere.