How to Say “I Don’t Understand” in Portuguese

Introduction

Learning how to express confusion or lack of comprehension is one of the most essential skills for any language learner. When studying Portuguese, knowing how to say I don’t understand can transform frustrating moments into valuable learning opportunities. This comprehensive guide will walk you through multiple ways to express confusion in Portuguese, from formal business settings to casual conversations with friends.

The Basic Expression: Não Entendo

The most straightforward way to say I don’t understand in Portuguese is Não entendo. This phrase combines não (not) with the first-person present tense of the verb entender (to understand). This expression works in virtually any situation and is understood throughout the Portuguese-speaking world.

The verb entender is a regular -er verb in Portuguese, making it relatively easy to conjugate. When you say não entendo, you’re using the present indicative tense, which expresses what is happening right now. This direct approach clearly communicates your current state of confusion without ambiguity.

Here are some practical examples:
Não entendo essa palavra. (I don’t understand this word.)
Desculpe, mas não entendo. (Sorry, but I don’t understand.)
Não entendo o que você está dizendo. (I don’t understand what you’re saying.)

Alternative Verb: Não Compreendo

Another common way to express lack of understanding is Não compreendo. This phrase uses the verb compreender instead of entender. While both verbs translate to understand in English, compreender often carries a slightly more formal or intellectual tone.

In everyday conversation, não entendo and não compreendo are generally interchangeable. However, compreender might be preferred in professional settings, academic discussions, or when discussing complex concepts that require deeper understanding rather than simple comprehension.

Examples using compreender:
Não compreendo a lógica disso. (I don’t understand the logic of this.)
Ainda não compreendo o conceito. (I still don’t understand the concept.)
Não compreendo sua decisão. (I don’t understand your decision.)

Past Tense Expressions

Sometimes you need to express that you didn’t understand something that was said or happened in the past. For these situations, Portuguese offers two main past tense options: the preterite and the imperfect.

Preterite: Não Entendi

The phrase Não entendi uses the preterite tense to indicate a completed action in the past. This is the most common way to say I didn’t understand when referring to a specific moment or utterance. Use não entendi when you want to indicate that something just happened and you didn’t catch it.

Common examples include:
Não entendi o que você falou. (I didn’t understand what you said.)
Desculpe, não entendi nada. (Sorry, I didn’t understand anything.)
Você pode repetir? Não entendi. (Can you repeat? I didn’t understand.)

Imperfect: Não Entendia

The imperfect tense form Não entendia describes a habitual or ongoing state of not understanding in the past. This form is less common in everyday conversation but useful when describing past experiences or situations that lasted over time.

For instance:
Quando eu era criança, não entendia matemática. (When I was a child, I didn’t understand mathematics.)
Antes eu não entendia, mas agora sim. (Before I didn’t understand, but now I do.)

Polite and Formal Variations

In Portuguese culture, politeness is highly valued, especially in formal situations or when speaking with people you don’t know well. Adding polite expressions to your statement of confusion shows respect and cultural awareness.

Adding Desculpe or Perdão

Beginning your statement with Desculpe (excuse me, sorry) or Perdão (pardon) immediately softens the message and shows respect for the speaker. These additions are particularly important in professional environments or when speaking with elders.

Examples include:
Desculpe, não entendi. (Sorry, I didn’t understand.)
Perdão, não compreendo. (Pardon, I don’t understand.)
Desculpe, mas não entendi sua pergunta. (Sorry, but I didn’t understand your question.)

Using Com Licença

The phrase Com licença (excuse me, with permission) is another polite way to preface your statement. While slightly more formal than desculpe, it shows deference and respect in situations where you need to interrupt or ask for clarification.

Example usage:
Com licença, não entendi essa parte. (Excuse me, I didn’t understand that part.)

Informal and Colloquial Expressions

When speaking with friends, family, or in casual settings, Brazilians often use more relaxed expressions to indicate confusion. These informal phrases add personality to your Portuguese and help you sound more natural in everyday conversations.

Não Tô Entendendo Nada

The expression Não tô entendendo nada is an extremely common informal way to say I’m not understanding anything. The contraction tô is a casual form of estou (I am), making this phrase distinctly conversational. The addition of nada (nothing) emphasizes complete confusion.

This phrase is perfect for casual contexts:
Cara, não tô entendendo nada! (Dude, I’m not understanding anything!)
Não tô entendendo nada dessa conversa. (I’m not understanding anything of this conversation.)

Não Sacou

The verb Sacar is Brazilian slang meaning to understand or get something. While quite informal, it’s widely used among younger speakers and in relaxed settings. When you say não sacou, you’re essentially saying didn’t get it in a very casual way.

Informal examples:
Não saquei. (I didn’t get it.)
Você sacou o que ele disse? (Did you get what he said?)
Não tô sacando nada. (I’m not getting anything.)

Tá Claro Como Água Suja

This humorous expression Tá claro como água suja literally means it’s as clear as dirty water and is a sarcastic way to say something is not clear at all. Brazilians love using humor and irony in conversation, and this phrase perfectly captures that cultural trait.

Asking for Clarification

Beyond simply stating that you don’t understand, you’ll often want to ask for help, repetition, or clarification. Portuguese offers several natural ways to request assistance when you’re confused.

Pode Repetir?

The question Pode repetir? (Can you repeat?) is one of the most useful phrases for language learners. It politely requests that the speaker say something again, giving you another chance to understand. The verb poder (can, to be able to) makes this a polite request rather than a demand.

Variations include:
Pode repetir, por favor? (Can you repeat, please?)
Você pode repetir mais devagar? (Can you repeat more slowly?)
Pode falar de novo? (Can you say that again?)

Como?

The simple word Como? (What? How?) serves as a quick way to indicate you didn’t catch what was said. While brief, it’s perfectly acceptable in most contexts and signals that you need the speaker to repeat themselves. Think of it as the Portuguese equivalent of saying what? or huh? in English.

O Que Você Disse?

The phrase O que você disse? (What did you say?) directly asks the speaker to clarify their previous statement. This is more explicit than simply saying como and works well when you heard something but didn’t fully comprehend it.

Related expressions:
O que foi? (What was that?)
O que você quis dizer? (What did you mean?)
Como assim? (How so? What do you mean?)

Specifying What You Don’t Understand

Sometimes it’s helpful to be specific about exactly what’s causing your confusion. Portuguese allows you to pinpoint the source of your misunderstanding, which helps the other person provide better clarification.

Targeting Specific Words or Concepts

You can use phrases like Não entendo essa palavra (I don’t understand this word) or Não entendo esse conceito (I don’t understand this concept) to identify precisely what’s confusing you. This specificity helps native speakers adjust their explanation accordingly.

Useful specific phrases:
Não entendo o significado disso. (I don’t understand the meaning of that.)
Não compreendo a diferença. (I don’t understand the difference.)
Não entendo por que isso aconteceu. (I don’t understand why that happened.)

Expressing Partial Understanding

When you grasp some parts but not everything, you can say Não entendo tudo (I don’t understand everything) or Entendo um pouco (I understand a little). These phrases acknowledge your partial comprehension while requesting additional help.

Examples of partial understanding:
Entendo a ideia geral, mas não os detalhes. (I understand the general idea, but not the details.)
Não entendo completamente. (I don’t completely understand.)
Entendo algumas palavras, mas não a frase toda. (I understand some words, but not the whole sentence.)

Regional Variations and Dialects

While this article focuses on Brazilian Portuguese, it’s worth noting that Portuguese is spoken across multiple countries, each with unique expressions and preferences. Understanding these variations enriches your overall Portuguese knowledge.

Brazilian vs. European Portuguese

In European Portuguese, speakers might use different constructions or vocabulary. For instance, Europeans frequently use Não percebi (I didn’t perceive/catch) where Brazilians would say não entendi. The verb perceber is more common in Portugal for expressing understanding.

European Portuguese examples:
Não percebi o que disseste. (I didn’t understand what you said.)
Podes repetir? (Can you repeat?)

Notice also that European Portuguese uses disseste instead of the Brazilian disse and podes instead of pode in informal contexts.

Body Language and Cultural Context

In Brazilian culture, communication extends beyond words. When expressing that you don’t understand, certain gestures and facial expressions commonly accompany your verbal message, creating a more complete communicative act.

Common Accompanying Gestures

Brazilians often pair their verbal expressions with physical cues. A confused facial expression, raised eyebrows, or a slight head tilt naturally accompanies phrases like não entendi. Some speakers might also put their hand to their ear to indicate they didn’t hear properly, or shake their head gently while saying they don’t understand.

Cultural Expectations

Brazilian culture values warmth and openness in communication. Don’t hesitate to admit when you don’t understand something—Brazilians generally appreciate honesty and are typically patient with language learners. Most native speakers will gladly repeat, rephrase, or slow down their speech to help you comprehend.

It’s also culturally appropriate to smile while admitting confusion. This keeps the interaction friendly and reduces any potential awkwardness. Brazilians tend to be encouraging and supportive when others are learning Portuguese, so expressing your confusion is seen as a positive step in the learning process rather than a weakness.

Practice Scenarios and Dialogues

To solidify your understanding of these expressions, let’s explore some realistic conversational scenarios where you might need to say you don’t understand.

At a Restaurant

Imagine you’re at a Brazilian restaurant and the waiter mentions a dish you’ve never heard of:

Waiter: Hoje temos uma feijoada especial com couve refogada.
You: Desculpe, não entendi. O que é feijoada?
Waiter: É um prato típico brasileiro com feijão preto e carne de porco.

This exchange shows how admitting you don’t understand leads to helpful clarification.

In a Language Class

During a Portuguese lesson, your teacher explains a grammar concept too quickly:

Teacher: O pretérito imperfeito é usado para ações habituais no passado.
You: Não compreendo completamente. Pode dar um exemplo?
Teacher: Claro! Por exemplo: quando eu era criança, eu brincava no parque todos os dias.

Asking for examples is an excellent strategy when you partially understand but need concrete illustrations.

Meeting New People

When someone introduces themselves quickly at a social gathering:

Person: Oi, eu sou a Mariana, trabalho no departamento de marketing da empresa.
You: Oi, Mariana! Desculpe, pode repetir seu nome? Não entendi bem.
Person: Mariana. Muito prazer!

Advanced Expressions for Nuanced Confusion

As your Portuguese improves, you’ll want to express more subtle forms of misunderstanding. These advanced phrases help you communicate precisely what type of confusion you’re experiencing.

Não Estou Conseguindo Acompanhar

The phrase Não estou conseguindo acompanhar means I’m not managing to follow along or I can’t keep up. This expression is particularly useful when information is coming too fast or when a conversation topic is beyond your current comprehension level.

Example: Você está falando muito rápido, não estou conseguindo acompanhar. (You’re speaking very fast, I can’t keep up.)

Isso Não Faz Sentido Para Mim

When something seems illogical or contradictory, you can say Isso não faz sentido para mim (That doesn’t make sense to me). This goes beyond simple lack of comprehension to suggest that even if you understood the words, the logic or reasoning seems flawed.

Usage: Desculpe, mas isso não faz sentido para mim. Pode explicar de outra forma? (Sorry, but that doesn’t make sense to me. Can you explain it another way?)

Estou Confuso

Simply stating Estou confuso (I’m confused) directly expresses your mental state. If you’re female, you would say estou confusa to match grammatical gender. This phrase effectively communicates general bewilderment without specifying exactly what you don’t understand.

Tips for Language Learners

Mastering these expressions is just the beginning. Here are practical strategies to help you navigate moments of confusion while learning Portuguese.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask

Many language learners hesitate to admit confusion, fearing they’ll appear incompetent. However, asking for clarification is actually a sign of active engagement and intelligence. Native speakers respect learners who seek understanding rather than pretending to comprehend.

Use Multiple Strategies

If simply saying não entendi doesn’t yield better understanding, try different approaches. Ask for written clarification, request synonyms, or ask the speaker to use simpler words. You might say: Pode usar palavras mais simples? (Can you use simpler words?) or Pode escrever isso? (Can you write that?)

Learn Common Follow-Up Phrases

Beyond expressing confusion, learn phrases that help you navigate the clarification process:
Pode falar mais devagar? (Can you speak more slowly?)
O que significa isso? (What does that mean?)
Tem outro jeito de explicar? (Is there another way to explain?)
Pode dar um exemplo? (Can you give an example?)

Context Clues Are Your Friend

Even when you don’t understand every word, context often provides crucial hints. Before immediately saying you don’t understand, take a moment to consider the situation, previous conversation, and any cognates or familiar words. Sometimes understanding comes from synthesis rather than knowing every individual element.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

As you practice these expressions, be aware of common errors that Portuguese learners often make when trying to express confusion.

Direct Translation Errors

Avoid translating English phrases word-for-word into Portuguese. For instance, saying eu não compreendo is correct, but trying to say something like eu não entendo isso when you mean I don’t get it (in the sense of not receiving something) could cause confusion. The verb entender specifically means to comprehend, not to receive.

Overusing Formal Language

While politeness is valued, being overly formal in casual situations can create distance. If you’re chatting with Brazilian friends your age, saying não tô entendendo is more appropriate than não compreendo. Match your language level to the social context.

Forgetting Verb Conjugation

Remember that entender must be conjugated to match the subject. If you’re talking about someone else not understanding, you need to change the verb form: ele não entende (he doesn’t understand) or eles não entendem (they don’t understand).

Building Confidence Through Practice

The key to naturally using these expressions is consistent practice in real situations. Here are practical ways to incorporate these phrases into your learning routine.

Practice with Language Partners

Find conversation partners who will patiently work with you. Deliberately use these phrases during your practice sessions, even when you mostly understand. This helps you become comfortable with the expressions before you desperately need them in real situations.

Watch Portuguese Content

Brazilian TV shows, movies, and YouTube videos provide authentic examples of how native speakers express confusion. Pay attention to the phrases actors use, the contexts where they appear, and the accompanying body language. Try pausing and repeating the expressions to build muscle memory.

Create Flashcards

Make flashcards with different scenarios on one side and appropriate expressions on the other. For example: The teacher spoke too fast on the front, and Desculpe, você pode repetir mais devagar? on the back. Regular review helps these phrases become automatic.

Keep a Learning Journal

Document situations where you needed to express confusion and how you handled them. Reflect on what worked well and what you might say differently next time. This metacognitive practice accelerates your learning and builds confidence.

Conclusion

Expressing that you don’t understand is not a sign of failure—it’s an essential communication skill that facilitates learning and connection. From the basic não entendo to informal expressions like não tô sacando nada, Portuguese offers numerous ways to navigate confusion gracefully. By mastering these phrases and practicing them regularly, you’ll transform moments of uncertainty into opportunities for growth, deeper understanding, and more authentic conversations with Portuguese speakers.