compreendo

Compreendo is the first-person singular present indicative form of the Portuguese verb compreender, meaning "I understand." The verb itself means to grasp or apprehend mentally, and compreender is used across European and Brazilian Portuguese with similar core sense. Its etymology traces to Latin comprehendere, from com- "together" and prehendere "to seize," conveying the idea of grasping something with the mind.

Usage and nuance: Compreender and its forms express understanding of concepts, explanations, or situations. In many contexts, compreender implies a deeper or more thorough understanding, while entender can be more general or colloquial. The choice between them can reflect nuance rather than a strict rule; for example, one might say "eu compreendo" to indicate solid grasp of a concept, or "eu entendo" to indicate basic comprehension or acknowledgment.

Conjugation and examples: The present indicative forms include eu compreendo, tu compreendes, ele/ela compreende, nós compreendemos, vós compreendeis, eles/elas comprendem. Past and future tenses follow regular -er verb patterns: eu compreendi (I understood), eu compreenderei (I will understand). The past participle is compreendido, used in perfect tenses (e.g., eu tenho compreendido). Example sentences: Eu compreendo o problema. Não compreendo a explicação. Ontem eu compreendi as instruções.

Related terms include compreender (the infinitive), entender (a closely related verb with overlapping usage), and compreendido (past participle).

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