Spanish word

comprender

Pronunciation

IPA/kompɾenˈdeɾ/

Meaning

  • verbunderstand

Example

¿Comprendes esto?

Do you understand this?

Illustration for comprender (understand)

More examples

No siempre se puede comprender todo al escuchar rápido.

You can't always understand everything when listening quickly.

Core concept

Meaning becoming clear after information or an explanation is connected.

Common phrases

  • comprender bien

    understand well

  • comprender las instrucciones

    understand the instructions

  • comprender el punto

    understand the point

Similar words

entender: Understands spoken information or an explanation as factual, intellectual comprehension.
captar: Picks up subtle meanings from words or expressions quickly and intuitively.
empatizar: Feels and shares another person's emotions, responding with emotional attunement.
darse cuenta: Notices or becomes aware of something upon seeing or hearing it.

Definition in Spanish

Entender el significado, la explicación o la situación de algo o alguien; en ciertos contextos también implica empatía.

Word origin

From Latin comprehendere (com- + prehendere 'to seize'), whose figurative development 'to seize with the mind' led to the sense of understanding another person's motives or feelings.

Usage tips

  • When referring to feelings or motives, comprender signals empathy or deeper understanding, whereas entender is more common for simple factual comprehension.

Other meanings

  • graspverb
  • includeverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word