French Conversation · Level 26
89 words
French word
comprendre
Pronunciation
IPA/kɔ̃pʁɑ̃dʁ/
Meaning
- verbunderstand
Example
Je ne comprends pas.
I don't understand.
More examples
Je comprends ce que tu veux dire.
I understand what you mean.
Core concept
Meaning is mentally gathered into a clear grasp, and a whole may contain something as one of its parts.
Common phrases
comprendre quelqu'un
understand someone
comprendre quelque chose
understand something
se faire comprendre
make oneself understood
Similar words
savoir: To be aware of a fact or piece of information.
connaître: To be familiar with a person, place, or subject through knowledge or experience.
saisir: To grasp an idea or meaning quickly.
Definition in French
Percevoir et appréhender mentalement le contenu, l'intention ou la raison d'une phrase ou d'une situation ; signifier aussi qu'une chose fait partie d'un tout.
Word origin
The French verb comprendre derives from Latin comprehendere, whose elements mean 'together' and 'grasp' and whose meanings included mental grasping and inclusion.
Usage tips
- Comprendre que introduces a clause directly, as in comprendre que c'est important, without a preposition before the clause.
Other meanings
- containverb
Opposites
- ignorerignoreverb
- méconnaîtremisunderstandverb
Related words
- compréhensionunderstandingnoun
- compréhensibleunderstandableadjective
- compréhensifunderstandingadjective