How do you say "I don't understand" in Portuguese?
Say Não entendi about something just said, and follow it with what you need: a repeat or slower speech.
| Portuguese | Meaning | In CiaoSpeak |
|---|---|---|
| Não entendi. | I didn't understand. I didn't catch that. | Unit 2 |
| Pode repetir, por favor? | Can you say that again, please? | Unit 2 |
| Mais devagar, por favor. | Slower, please. | Unit 2 |
| Falo um pouco de português. | I speak a little Portuguese. | Unit 2 |
| Perdão. | Sorry. (Perdão? with a rising tone: "Sorry, what did you say?") | Unit 18 |
What is the difference between não entendi and não entendo?
Não entendi ("I didn't understand") is about something just said, and it's what Brazilians say in conversation. Não entendo ("I don't understand") is more general: Não entendo nada de futebol ("I don't know anything about soccer").
| Portuguese | Meaning | In CiaoSpeak |
|---|---|---|
| Não entendi. | I didn't understand. I didn't catch that. | Unit 2 |
| Não entendo. | I don't understand. (in general) | Not in the course |
What will Brazilians say back?
Most people will slow down; Ana, your language-exchange partner in CiaoSpeak's Speak tab, even tells you to ask, and Rodrigo the ride-app driver offers:
| Portuguese | Meaning | In CiaoSpeak |
|---|---|---|
| Pode me pedir para falar mais devagar, viu? | You can ask me to talk more slowly, OK? | Speak: Language exchange |
| Falo mais devagar? | Shall I speak more slowly? | Not in the course |
What mistakes do English speakers make when they don't understand?
The common mistakes are Eu não sei ("I don't know") for "I don't understand", and a bare O quê?, which can sound blunt.
- Não sei means "I don't know". "I didn't understand" is Não entendi.
- A bare O quê? can sound abrupt. Perdão? or Como? is softer.
- Pretending to understand. Não entendi, pode repetir? is completely normal.
How can you practice saying it out loud?
Say it to someone who answers. In CiaoSpeak's Brazilian Portuguese course, the lessons teach Não entendi and Pode repetir? with a recording in a Brazilian accent, and in the Speak tab a character in a real scene (a São Paulo baker, a Rio ride-app driver, your language-exchange partner Ana) talks to you and you answer out loud. The app tells you whether a Brazilian would understand you, with one gentle fix if not. Lessons are free; in the Speak tab, today's questions (up to five a day) are free too, and CiaoSpeak+ adds practice in any scene whenever you like. More phrases: how to say everyday things in Portuguese.