How to Say I Don't Understand in Spanish

You're at a pharmacy counter in Lima, the pharmacist fires off a rapid-fire question, and your brain freezes. Do you nod and hope for the best, or say something? Knowing how to say "I don't understand" in Spanish is the single most useful survival phrase you can learn — and the good news is that it's easy.

Why This Phrase Matters

Most beginners panic and fall back on English, or worse, smile and agree to something they didn't catch. But native speakers are usually delighted to slow down if you simply tell them you're lost. The trick is having a few ready-made phrases so you're not searching for words mid-panic.

The other trick is precision. "I don't understand" can mean "I didn't catch the words," "I know the words but not the meaning," or "I don't speak enough Spanish yet." Spanish has a slightly different phrase for each, and using the right one gets you the right kind of help.

The Basic Phrase: No entiendo

The most direct way to say it is "No entiendo" (I don't understand). It works in every country and every situation, from a street market to a business meeting.

Key Phrases

• No entiendo (noh ehn-tee-EHN-doh) — I don't understand
• No entendí (noh ehn-tehn-DEE) — I didn't understand (what you just said)
• No te entiendo (noh teh ehn-tee-EHN-doh) — I don't understand you (informal)
• No le entiendo (noh leh ehn-tee-EHN-doh) — I don't understand you (formal)
• No comprendo (noh kohm-PREHN-doh) — I don't comprehend (a bit more formal)

[AUDIO: No entiendo]

Grammar Note

Entender (to understand) is a stem-changing verb: the e becomes ie in most present-tense forms, except nosotros and vosotros. Here is the pattern:

• yo entiendo
• tú entiendes
• él/ella/usted entiende
• nosotros entendemos
• ellos/ellas/ustedes entienden

A common mistake is writing "entendo" — forgetting the ie. Another is using "No entiendo" when you mean "I didn't catch that": for a single sentence you just heard, the past form "No entendí" is more natural.

In everyday speech across Latin America you will often hear "No entiendo nada" (I don't understand anything) said with a laugh. Spanish speakers use double negatives happily, so no plus nada is perfectly correct, not a mistake.

Asking Someone to Repeat or Slow Down

Saying you don't understand is only half the job. The real magic is the follow-up request. These phrases keep the conversation going instead of ending it.

Key Phrases

• ¿Puede repetir, por favor? (PWEH-deh reh-peh-TEER) — Can you repeat that, please? (formal)
• ¿Puedes repetir? (PWEH-dehs reh-peh-TEER) — Can you repeat? (informal)
• Más despacio, por favor (mahs dehs-PAH-syoh) — More slowly, please
• ¿Cómo? / ¿Perdón? (KOH-moh / pehr-DOHN) — Pardon? / Sorry?
• ¿Qué significa...? (keh seeg-nee-FEE-kah) — What does ... mean?
• ¿Cómo se dice...? (KOH-moh seh DEE-seh) — How do you say ...?

Notice the formal/informal split. With a stranger, an older person, or someone serving you, use usted forms (puede). With friends and people your age, tú forms (puedes) are fine. If you're unsure which to use, our guide to tú vs. usted covers it.

In Mexico, people often say "¿Mande?" instead of "¿Cómo?" when they didn't hear you. It's a polite "pardon?" that literally means "command me," a leftover from a more formal era. Don't be startled if you hear it.

Telling People You're Still Learning

Sometimes the honest answer is that you just don't speak enough Spanish yet. Spanish speakers appreciate the effort, and saying so often earns you slower, simpler speech.

Key Phrases

• Estoy aprendiendo español (ehs-TOY ah-prehn-DYEHN-doh ehs-pah-NYOHL) — I'm learning Spanish
• Hablo un poco de español (AH-bloh oon POH-koh deh ehs-pah-NYOHL) — I speak a little Spanish
• No hablo mucho español (noh AH-bloh MOO-choh ehs-pah-NYOHL) — I don't speak much Spanish
• ¿Habla inglés? (AH-blah een-GLEHS) — Do you speak English?
• No sé (noh SEH) — I don't know

Be careful with no sé versus no entiendo. No sé means "I don't know" (a fact or answer), while no entiendo means "I don't follow." Mixing them up can lead to confusing replies: if someone asks you directions and you say no entiendo, they will rephrase; if you say no sé, they will assume you aren't from around here.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Saying "No entiendo" to mean "I don't know." Use no sé for that.
• Saying "No comprendo" in casual chat. It is correct but sounds a little stiff, like "I do not comprehend" in English. Stick to no entiendo.
• Dropping the accent on entendí. The accent marks the past tense; without it, entendi looks wrong in writing.
• Forgetting the stem change in entiendo.

Practical Application

Here is a realistic exchange you might have at a café in Bogotá. Read it aloud a few times so the phrases feel natural.

• Waiter: ¿Le traigo algo más, señor? (Shall I bring you anything else, sir?)
• You: Perdón, no entendí. ¿Puede repetir, por favor? (Sorry, I didn't catch that. Can you repeat, please?)
• Waiter: ¿Quiere algo más? (Do you want something else?)
• You: Ah, sí. Un agua, por favor. (Ah, yes. A water, please.)

Notice the pattern: apologize, say you didn't understand, then ask for repetition. Three short steps keep you in control of the conversation.

Next time you practice with a tutor or an app, deliberately say no entiendo once or twice, even if you do understand. Making these phrases automatic means they'll be there when you actually panic.

Practice Exercises

• Fill in the blank: Yo no ______ (entender) lo que dices.
• Translate: "Can you speak more slowly, please?" (formal)
• Multiple choice: Which means "I don't know"? (a) No entiendo (b) No sé (c) No comprendo
• Translate: "I'm learning Spanish."
• Fill in the blank: Ellos no ______ (entender) la pregunta.
• Which question would you use with a stranger: ¿Puedes repetir? or ¿Puede repetir?

Answer Key

• entiendo
• ¿Puede hablar más despacio, por favor?
• (b) No sé
• Estoy aprendiendo español.
• entienden
• ¿Puede repetir? (formal usted form)

Conclusion

You now have everything you need to handle the moment your Spanish runs out. Remember:

• No entiendo (or no entendí for what you just heard) is your go-to phrase.
• Follow it with ¿Puede repetir, por favor? or Más despacio, por favor to keep the conversation alive.
• Use no sé only when you mean "I don't know."

Ready for more survival Spanish? Read our guides on how to say sorry and how to say thank you in Spanish, then try using today's phrases in a real conversation. Leave a comment with the phrase you plan to use first!