comprende

Comprende is a form of the Spanish verb comprender, meaning to understand or to comprehend. In present tense usage, comprende is the third-person singular form (él/ella/usted comprende), so it translates as "he understands," "she understands," or "you understand" when using the formal address “usted.” It is also the affirmative tú command, used to tell someone informally to understand. The basic, neutral sense of comprender is transitive: it takes a direct object, as in comprender una idea.

Etymology and meaning development. Comprender derives from Latin comprehendere, formed with com- (together) and prehendere (to seize or grasp). The original sense of grasping or seizing extended metaphorically to grasping concepts, hence the modern sense of understanding.

Conjugation notes. In the present indicative, the forms are: yo comprendo, tú comprendes, él/ella/usted comprende, nosotros comprendemos, vosotros comprendéis, ellos/ellas/ustedes comprenden. The affirmative informal imperative is comprende (tú), while the negative tú command is no comprendas. The formal commands are: comprenda (usted), comprendan (ustedes), and comprehendámos (nosotros). The imperfect and subjunctive forms follow standard patterns for -er verbs.

Usage notes. Comprende is commonly used in everyday speech to indicate understanding, as in “Ya lo entiendo/Ya lo comprendo” (I understand it now). It often appears with questions such as “¿Comprendes?” or “¿Qué comprendes de esto?” The verb is close in meaning to entender, though some speakers differentiate nuance or register in particular contexts.

See also. Understanding in Spanish grammar; comprender vs. entender; verb conjugation patterns for -er verbs.