"entender" versus "comprender"

Question

Is the any nuance between Entender and Comprender or are they essentially interchangeable?

Thanks. - 0095ca4c, Oct 6, 2013

Answer 1

This is the perfect example and opportunity to get over the RAE site http://www.rae.es/rae.html and look for the term, and read though both term. Do it, even if you think you are not understanding much. you can always look up the new term in a bilingual dictionary such as the Mewrriam-Webster site.

Did as you recommended. Comprender had quite a unexpected list of definitions. Interesting stuff. - dennywells, Oct 6, 2013

Answer 2

Let's say with understanding there's a spectrum going from wisdom on the high end and rote learning on the other end.

I absolutely agree with this statement. There is a scale of understanding. However, look at the two words as almost interchangeable. Except that if I had to put them on a scale of understanding I would put entender at the lower end and comprender at the higher end. Maybe I am mixing up the concept of comprehension with comprender. To me comprehension is a more thorough understanding of something than entender.

For example:

A; No you can't go out tonight. B: Why? A: Because you didn't do your homework, understand?

A: No puedes salir esta noche. B: ¿Por qué? A: Porque no hiciste tu tarea, ¿entiendes?

Versus:

Comprendo total que es necesario para preparar informes financieros.

Good point with entiendes being used in that sense, to admonish a child. Maybe only the context in which it is used in pushes it one way or the other. - dennywells, Oct 6, 2013

Answer 3

I'll take a shot. Let's say with understanding there's a spectrum going from wisdom on the high end and rote learning on the other end. I would put entender towards the high end, or higher than comprender. My spanish influences are from southern california and mexico. Spanish not being my first language, honestly I can only speculate. Comprender, or comprendes is a word known to most non spanish speakers, because it's very close to comprehension. You hear it used sometimes in a sort of demeaning sense. Si comprendes, no comprendes, almost like a command. For that reason I rarely use it, but am not sure if native speakers would agree with that connotation,