German word

verstehen

Pronunciation

IPA/fɛɐ̯ˈʃteːən/

Meaning

  • verbunderstand

Example

Verstehst du mich?

Do you understand me?

Illustration for verstehen (understand)

More examples

Wir verstehen einander gut.

We understand each other well.

Core concept

Words, sounds, or a person's point become clear enough to grasp.

Common phrases

  • mich verstehen

    understand me

  • einander verstehen

    understand each other

  • kein Wort verstehen

    not understand a word

Similar words

zustimmen: To agree with and accept another person's opinion or proposal.
hören: To hear and take in sounds or spoken words.
nachvollziehen: To follow someone's reasoning or circumstances and see how they make sense.
begreifen: To grasp the deeper nature or workings of something.

Definition in German

Den Sinn oder die Absicht von etwas erkennen und innerlich erfassen.

Word origin

German verstehen is an inherited Germanic verb whose older forms firstan and verstān are connected with the verb stehen.

Usage tips

  • Ich verstehe dich can acknowledge another person's meaning or viewpoint without expressing agreement.

Other meanings

  • hearverb

Opposites

  • missverstehenmisunderstandverb

Related words

Word lists with this word