Telling someone that you don’t understand in Spanish
If you are a novice Spanish speaker and you plan on taking a class or traveling to a Spanish-spseaking country, it’s a darn good idea to learn how to let people know when you don’t understand what you are saying. This could prevent you from seeming rude when you don’t respond appropriately to something being asked of you.
But, no matter what your level of Spanish comprehension is, there is always going to be a time when you don’t quite understand what someone is saying. Perhaps there is a word that they pronounce differently than you are accustomed to hearing it, due to a local dialect. Perhaps they use a slang term or colloquialism that you are not familiar with at all. Perhaps they speak a bit quickly, quietly (or are just a little drunk)? Even if you are a Spanish master, it can be tough to hear everything that someone says, particularly if there is music or other noise in the background.
So – don’t be ashamed to ask someone to repeat themselves! It is far better to admit that you did not understand something, and get clarification, than to pretend and get yourself into trouble further along in the conversation.
While “no te entiendo” is one of the most common ways to say “I don’t understand you” in Spanish, there are a lot more. Here are some common phrases:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| No entiendo | I don’t understand |
| No comprendo | I don't understand (less common) |
| ¿Me lo puedes repetir, por favor? | Could you repeat that, please? |
| ¿Cómo? | What's that? |
| ¿Disculpe? | Excuse me? |
| ¿Lo siento? | I'm sorry? |
| ¿Perdon? | Pardon? |
| ¿Podría repetir eso? | Could you repeat that? |
| ¿Qué dijiste? | What did you say? |
| Más lento, por favor | (Say it) more slowly, please |
| Otra vez | (Could you say that) again? |
| Una vez más, por favor | One more time, please |
| No entendí | I didn't understand that |
| Perdon, no te entiendo | Sorry, I don’t understand you |
How do you say “I don’t understand” in Spanish?
When I was traveling in Spain, the absolute most common way of saying “I don’t understand” was a succinct “¿Cómo?”. It’s short and sweet, gets the point across, and is universally understood. It doesn’t literally mean “I don’t understand”, more like “what?” It’s basically used the way an American would say “huh?”, but a little less impolite. In other countries, it’s just as popular to say “¿Perdon?” or “otra vez”.
Any of these phrases are going to get the point across (politely) that you do not understand, and that you either need the other person to repeat themselves or to slow down.
Again, don’t be afraid of being a bother. Spanish can be hard to learn, and there’s no shame in asking someone to slow their speech while you are first starting out. Make sure that you understand what people are saying to you, and over time, you will need to ask less.
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