Comprender o entender

Question

Yo soy un escritor y estoy preocupado por los matices de significado. ¿Qué funciona mejor en esta frase?

I am a writer and am concerned about shades of meaning. Which works better in this sentence?

Yo falto suficiente practica (comprender/entender) español hablado.

entender (2nd conjugation verb) - 0074b507, Jan 6, 2012

Mea culpa!!! - ejs385, Jan 6, 2012

Answer 1

Comprender =To comprehend , --- Entender = To understand

They can be used interchangeable sometimes but it can change a little bit the order of the words in order to run smoothly. I.E. ¡No te puedo entender! = I cannot understand you! ¡No puedo comprenderte! = I cannot understand you!. --- A very specific way to use "comprender" is in education. "Comprension de lectura"

Yes, you're right, no comprendo works just as well as no entiendo.. - annierats, Jan 6, 2012

I vote for you! - annierats, Jan 6, 2012

Thanks annietrats! I have always enjoyed your contributions to the forum! - farallon7, Jan 6, 2012

Answer 2

I thik it's always entender with languages.

But you can say: ''A mí, me falta la comprensíon..' I think , anyway. Await further answers, I'm only another student, not an expert.

Answer 3

I think that they are synonymous in that context of to understand, but I prefer entender which also carries the nuance of to know (saber). Often times we know something, but do not comprehend it. It reallys depends on what you are trying to say. If you are saying that you recognize the words that are being spoken, but cannot catch the meaning of the conversation, then I would prefer comprender.