Comprender español or comprender el español

Question

I was looking up rules for when to use the definite article in Spanish and I can't seem to find anything that really helps me figure out which one to use.

I read that you use the definite article if the language you are talking about is the direct object, but other website said you use the definite article every time you talk about a language except when the language follow hablar or estar.

Which option sounds better: comprender español or comprender el español?

Thanks in advanced!

Welcome to SpanishDict, Ashley. - rac1, Oct 6, 2017

Answer 1

Hablo español. Comprendo español.
Entiendo español. etc.

Here we mostly hear it without el but sometimes people could use "el"too.

What surprises me Is that we cannot delete el in cases like.

Me encanta el español. Me gusta el español. Me apasiona el español. Me fascina el español. Me repugna el español. etc.

I am a native speaker and I do not know many grammar rules. Can anyone explain?

In those cases the name of the language is the subject of the sentence which requires the definite article - DilKen, Oct 6, 2017

I see Dilken you gave me the rule. Subjects take El. - polenta1, Oct 6, 2017

Yes, nouns, other than proper names usually require some modifier before them when used as subjects. Examples of something: esa, nuestro, tres, cualquier, ambos, los, una ..... This does not apply to infinitives when used as nouns/subjects - DilKen, Oct 7, 2017

Dilken you know a lot of rules . - Polenta, Oct 8, 2017

Answer 2

Entender el español. I don't often hear the word comprender in every day Spanish and I would say it's more common when talking about language to use the "el" before. (Mexico)

I agree with you. Comprender is not as much used as entender in everyday language. - polenta1, Oct 6, 2017

Answer 3

Entender el español. I don't often hear the word comprender in every day Spanish and I would say it's more common when talking about language to use the "el" before. (Mexico)

I agree with you, Kiwaiano that it is more common when talking about language to use the article el before. I also concur (agree) with you and Polenta that the use of entender is much more common or widespread than comprender....to mean to understand something.

ex: Alba habla muy bien el español = Alba speaks Spanish very well!

I hope this helps

Corrijan mi español si es necesario, por favor

Answer 4

Here are three links that are previously discussed before regarding the differences between comprender and entender.

• What is the difference between 'entender' and 'comprender'
• ¿Entender o comprender?
• What is the difference in using entender or comprender?