compreende

Compreende is a form of the Portuguese verb compreender, meaning to understand. It is the present indicative form used with he, she, or you in Brazilian Portuguese (via the pronoun você), so it translates as “he understands,” “she understands,” or “you understand.”

Etymology and meaning

The verb compreender derives from Latin comprehendere, literally “to seize together.” In Portuguese, it evolved to express grasping information mentally, not only physical seizure. The sense most often referenced is intellectual understanding.

Usage and examples

Compreende is widely used in everyday speech and writing to indicate understanding of a concept, rule, or situation. It commonly appears with a direct object: “Ele compreende as regras” (He understands the rules). It also forms questions: “Você compreende?” or the shorter “Compreende?” meaning “Do you understand?” In negative form: “Não compreende” (He/she/you does not understand).

Conjugation and related forms

In the present indicative, the verb appears as eu compreendo, tu compreendes (more common in some European dialects), ele/ela/você compreende, nós compreendemos, vós compreendeis (Portugal), eles/elas compreendem. Related words include compreender (to understand), compreensão (understanding, comprehension), and compreensível (understandable).

Notes

Compreender and its derivatives are central in educational, professional, and everyday Portuguese. The term spans both practical understanding of concrete topics and broader cognitive grasp, making it a foundational verb in the language.