entender

English

Etymology

From en- +‎ tender. Doublet of intenerate.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɪnˈtɛndə(ɹ)/, /ɛnˈtɛndə(ɹ)/

Verb

entender (third-person singular simple present entenders, present participle entendering, simple past and past participle entendered)

1. (obsolete) To make tender.
   • 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 35, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:

     And fearing lest the torments he felt, might in some sort entender his wifes heart […], he besought her to be pleased she might be caried into the next chamber, which was accordingly performed.

   • 1790, Ann Ward Radcliffe, chapter 8, in A Sicilian Romance‎^[1], HTML edition:

     Entendered by distress, she easily yielded to the pensive manners of her companions and to the serene uniformity of a monastic life.

   • 1651, Jer[emy] Taylor, The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Francis Ashe […], →OCLC:

     For whatsoever creates fear , or makes the spirit to dwell in a religious sadness , is apt to entender the spirit , and make it devout and pliant to any part of dut

2. (transitive) To treat with tenderness.
   • 1742–1745, [Edward Young], The Complaint: Or, Night-Thoughts on Life, Death, & Immortality, London: […] [Samuel Richardson] for A[ndrew] Millar […], and R[obert] Dodsley […], published 1750, →OCLC:

     th' entender'd heart

Anagrams

• entendre, renneted

Aragonese

Etymology

Inherited from Latin intendere.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /entenˈde(ɾ)/
• Syllabification: en‧ten‧der
• Rhymes: -e(ɾ)

Verb

entender

1. (transitive) to understand

Conjugation

This entry needs an inflection-table template.

References

• Bal Palazios, Santiago (2002) “entender”, in Dizionario breu de a luenga aragonesa, Zaragoza, →ISBN
• “entender”, in Aragonario, diccionario aragonés–castellano (in Spanish)

Asturian

Etymology

Inherited from Latin intendere.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /entenˈdeɾ/ [ẽn̪.t̪ẽn̪ˈd̪eɾ]
• Rhymes: -eɾ
• Hyphenation: en‧ten‧der

Verb

entender

1. to understand
2. (reflexive) to get along
3. (reflexive) to have an affair (outside of marriage)

Conjugation

This entry needs an inflection-table template.

Galician

Etymology

Inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese entender, from Latin intendere.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /entenˈdeɾ/ [en̪.t̪en̪ˈd̪eɾ]
• Rhymes: -eɾ
• Hyphenation: en‧ten‧der

Verb

entender (first-person singular present entendo, first-person singular preterite entendín, past participle entendido)
entender (first-person singular present entendo, first-person singular preterite entendim or entendi, past participle entendido, reintegrationist norm)

1. to understand

   Synonym: comprender

   Non entendo o Finés ― I don't understand Finnish

2. to know

   Synonym: comprender

   Ese home enténdeche de coches ― That man knows about cars

3. to think, believe

   Synonyms: coidar, pensar

   • 1459, X. Ferro Couselo, editor, A vida e a fala dos devanceiros. Escolma de documentos en galego dos séculos XIII ao XVI, Vigo: Galaxia, page 340:

     Gonçaluo Rodrigues d'Olueda deu querella do dito prouisor et de seus omes, que tragendo él en este dia ena sua sua viña de tras lo Castello seys omes arrendando e labrando sua viña que seyran a él do dito castello sete omes et que aderençaran a hun seu fillo, que á nome Pedro, et a hun seu criado que lle deran con asta tras lo pescoço et aos ditos labradores que deran hua ferrida ena testa con hua lança et a outro labrador que lle deran quatro feridas, de que entendía que non escaparía, et correran pos elles

     Gonzalo Rodríguez de Olveda gave a complaint of said provisor and his men; because bringing he that day, in his vineyard behind the castle, six hired men working his vineyard, that seven men exited said castle to them, and that they came near one of his sons, who has the name Pedro, and that they hit one of his servants in the back of the neck with the shaft; and to said workers, they gave one a wound in the head with a spear, and to other worker they gave four wounds, of which he thought he wouldn't get out, and they ran after them

4. (pronominal) to get along

   Eu enténdome ben co meu irmán ― I get along great with my brother

5. (pronominal) to have a romance or an affair

   Eu penso que o Manolo e máis a Carmiña enténdense ― I think that Manolo and Carmiña have an affair

Conjugation

    Conjugation of entender

	Singular			Plural
	First-person (eu)	Second-person (ti)	Third-person (el / ela / Vde.)	First-person (nós)	Second-person (vós)	Third-person (eles / elas / Vdes.)
Infinitive
Impersonal	entender
Personal	entender	entenderes	entender	entendermos	entenderdes	entenderen
Gerund
	entendendo
Past participle
Masculine	entendido			entendidos
Feminine	entendida			entendidas
Indicative
Present	entendo	entendes	entende	entendemos	entendedes	entenden
Imperfect	entendía	entendías	entendía	entendiamos	entendiades	entendían
Preterite	entendín	entendiches	entendeu	entendemos	entendestes	entenderon
Pluperfect	entendera	entenderas	entendera	entenderamos	entenderades	entenderan
Future	entenderei	entenderás	entenderá	entenderemos	entenderedes	entenderán
Conditional	entendería	entenderías	entendería	entenderiamos	entenderiades	entenderían
Subjunctive
Present	entenda	entendas	entenda	entendamos	entendades	entendan
Imperfect	entendese	entendeses	entendese	entendésemos	entendésedes	entendesen
Future	entender	entenderes	entender	entendermos	entenderdes	entenderen
Imperative
Affirmative		entende	entenda	entendamos	entendede	entendan
Negative (non)		non entendas	non entenda	non entendamos	non entendades	non entendan

    Reintegrated conjugation of entender (See Appendix:Reintegrationism)

	Singular			Plural
	First-person (eu)	Second-person (ti / tu)	Third-person (ele / ela / você)	First-person (nós)	Second-person (vós)	Third-person (eles / elas / vocês)
Infinitive
Impersonal	entender
Personal	entender	entenderes	entender	entendermos	entenderdes	entenderem
Gerund
	entendendo
Past participle
Masculine	entendido			entendidos
Feminine	entendida			entendidas
Indicative
Present	entendo	entendes	entende	entendemos	entendedes, entendeis	entendem
Imperfect	entendia	entendias	entendia	entendíamos	entendíades, entendíeis, entendíais1	entendiam
Preterite	entendim, entendi	entendeste, entendeche1	entendeu	entendemos	entendestes	entendêrom, entenderam
Pluperfect	entendera	entenderas	entendera	entendêramos	entendêrades, entendêreis, entendêrais1	entenderam
Future	entenderei	entenderás	entenderá	entenderemos	entenderedes, entendereis	entenderám, entenderão
Conditional	entenderia	entenderias	entenderia	entenderíamos	entenderíades, entenderíeis, entenderíais1	entenderiam
Subjunctive
Present	entenda	entendas	entenda	entendamos	entendades, entendais	entendam
Imperfect	entendesse	entendesses	entendesse	entendêssemos	entendêssedes, entendêsseis	entendessem
Future	entender	entenderes	entender	entendermos	entenderdes	entenderem
Imperative
Affirmative		entende	entenda	entendamos	entendede, entendei	entendam
Negative (nom)		nom entendas	nom entenda	nom entendamos	nom entendades, nom entendais	nom entendam

¹Less recommended.

References

• Ernesto Xosé González Seoane, María Álvarez de la Granja, Ana Isabel Boullón Agrelo (2006–2022) “entender”, in Dicionario de Dicionarios do galego medieval (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Xavier Varela Barreiro, Xavier Gómez Guinovart (2006–2018) “entender”, in Corpus Xelmírez - Corpus lingüístico da Galicia medieval (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, editor (2006–2013), “entender”, in Dicionario de Dicionarios da lingua galega [Dictionary of Dictionaries of the Galician language] (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, Ernesto Xosé González Seoane, María Álvarez de la Granja, editors (2003–2018), “entender”, in Tesouro informatizado da lingua galega (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Rosario Álvarez Blanco, editor (2014–2024), “entender”, in Tesouro do léxico patrimonial galego e portugués (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega, →ISSN

Ladino

Alternative forms

• antender, entyender

Etymology

Inherited from Old Spanish entender (“to fathom”), from Latin intendere.

Pronunciation

• Audio (Spain):

  (file)

Verb

entender (Hebrew spelling אינטינדיר)

1. (transitive) to comprehend; to fathom; to grasp; to understand (hear)

   Synonym: komprender

   • 2003, Yosef Avraam Papo, לה ב׳ינייה די נבות: דראמה ביבליקו אין סינקו אקטות אין ב׳ירסוס‎^[2], הוצאת מכון מעלה אדומים לתיעוד השפה הספניולית ותרבותיה, →ISBN, page 34:

     Ma en semejantes amores tienes poka shansa,
     al entender, siendo entrates komo bestia kansa
     ke lucho oras enteras sin tener ventura.

     But in similar loves you have little chance at understanding, being entered into like [a] tired beast that fought gainlessly for entire hours.

   • 2020 November 25, Eliz Gatenyo, “Ko-Abitasyones”, in Şalom Gazetesi‎^[3]:

     Mösyö Ehrlich era lehli (ashkenazi) komo ya se entiende de su nombre.

     Mösyö Ehrlich was Lehli (Ashkenazi), as is already understood from his name.

Noun

entender m (Hebrew spelling אינטינדיר)

1. opinion; point of view (judgement)

   Synonym: opinión

Related terms

• entendemiento
• entendensia
• entendido
• entendiente
• entendimiento
• entendivle

Old Galician-Portuguese

Etymology

Inherited from Latin intendere.

Verb

entender

1. (transitive) to comprehend; to fathom; to grasp; to understand

Descendants

• Galician: entender
• Portuguese: entender

References

• Ernesto Xosé González Seoane, María Álvarez de la Granja, Ana Isabel Boullón Agrelo (2006–2022) “entender”, in Dicionario de Dicionarios do galego medieval (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega

Old Spanish

Etymology

Inherited from Latin intendere.

Verb

entender

1. (transitive) to comprehend; to fathom; to grasp; to understand
   • c. 1250, Alfonso X, Lapidario, f. 24v:

     Et los filoſofos precian la mucho por que ella a tal uertud que aquel que la trae conſigo aguzal mucho el entendimiento ⁊ el engenno, aſſi que ninguna coſa noles grieue de entender nin de aprender.

     And philosophers prize it greatly because its virtue is such that, of he who has it with him, it sharpens their understanding and ingenuity, so that nothing is difficult for them to understand or learn.

Descendants

• Ladino: antender, entender, entyender, אינטינדיר
• Spanish: entender
  • Tagalog: intindi

References

• Ralph Steele Boggs et al. (1946) “entender”, in Tentative Dictionary of Medieval Spanish, volume I, Chapel Hill, page 222

Portuguese

Etymology

Inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese entender, from Latin intendere. Doublet of intender, a borrowing.

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): (careful pronunciation) /ẽ.tẽˈde(ʁ)/ [ẽ.tẽˈde(h)], (natural pronunciation) /ĩ.tẽˈde(ʁ)/ [ĩ.tẽˈde(h)]

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): (careful pronunciation) /ẽ.tẽˈde(ʁ)/ [ẽ.tẽˈde(h)], (natural pronunciation) /ĩ.tẽˈde(ʁ)/ [ĩ.tẽˈde(h)]
  • (São Paulo) IPA^(key): (careful pronunciation) /ẽ.tẽˈde(ɾ)/, (natural pronunciation) /ĩ.tẽˈde(ɾ)/
  • (Rio de Janeiro) IPA^(key): (careful pronunciation) /ẽ.tẽˈde(ʁ)/ [ẽ.tẽˈde(χ)], (natural pronunciation) /ĩ.tẽˈde(ʁ)/ [ĩ.tẽˈde(χ)]
  • (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): (careful pronunciation) /ẽ.tẽˈde(ɻ)/, (natural pronunciation) /ĩ.tẽˈde(ɻ)/

 

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ẽ.tẽˈdeɾ/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ẽ.tẽˈdeɾ/
  • (Southern Portugal) IPA^(key): /ẽ.tẽˈde.ɾi/

• (Northeast Brazil) IPA^(key): /ĩ.tẽˈde/ or IPA^(key): /ĩ.tĩˈde(ɹ)/
• Hyphenation: en‧ten‧der

Verb

entender (first-person singular present entendo, first-person singular preterite entendi, past participle entendido)

1. to understand, to grasp, to comprehend

   Synonyms: compreender, dominar, perceber

   Não entendi este livro. ― I didn't understand this book.

   Fico feliz que você me entenda. ― I'm glad that you understand me.

2. (pronominal) to have a good or satisfactory relationship (with someone)

   Synonym: dar-se bem

   Antonyms: desentender, brigar

   Márcia e eu nos entendemos. ― Márcia and I have a good relationship.

Conjugation

    Conjugation of entender (See Appendix:Portuguese verbs)

	Singular			Plural
	First-person (eu)	Second-person (tu)	Third-person (ele / ela / você)	First-person (nós)	Second-person (vós)	Third-person (eles / elas / vocês)
Infinitive
Impersonal	entender
Personal	entender	entenderes	entender	entendermos	entenderdes	entenderem
Gerund
	entendendo
Past participle
Masculine	entendido			entendidos
Feminine	entendida			entendidas
Indicative
Present	entendo	entendes	entende	entendemos	entendeis	entendem
Imperfect	entendia	entendias	entendia	entendíamos	entendíeis	entendiam
Preterite	entendi	entendeste	entendeu	entendemos	entendestes	entenderam
Pluperfect	entendera	entenderas	entendera	entendêramos	entendêreis	entenderam
Future	entenderei	entenderás	entenderá	entenderemos	entendereis	entenderão
Conditional	entenderia	entenderias	entenderia	entenderíamos	entenderíeis	entenderiam
Subjunctive
Present	entenda	entendas	entenda	entendamos	entendais	entendam
Imperfect	entendesse	entendesses	entendesse	entendêssemos	entendêsseis	entendessem
Future	entender	entenderes	entender	entendermos	entenderdes	entenderem
Imperative
Affirmative		entende	entenda	entendamos	entendei	entendam
Negative (não)		não entendas	não entenda	não entendamos	não entendais	não entendam

Quotations

• For quotations using this term, see Citations:entender.

Spanish

Etymology

Inherited from Old Spanish entender (“to fathom”), from Latin intendere. Doublet of intender, a borrowing.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /entenˈdeɾ/ [ẽn̪.t̪ẽn̪ˈd̪eɾ]

• Audio (Colombia):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -eɾ
• Syllabification: en‧ten‧der

Verb

entender (first-person singular present entiendo, first-person singular preterite entendí, past participle entendido)

1. to understand, to fathom

   Synonym: comprender

   No entiendo. ― I don't understand.

2. to hear

   Synonyms: oír, escuchar

3. (intransitive, slang) to be queer (especially, to be queer like oneself)

   Aquel es muy guapo. ¿Crees que entiende?

   That one is really handsome. Do you think he's gay [like us]?

   No entiende, pero comprende.

   He isn't gay, but he is understanding [of gay people].

   un lugar entendido ― a gay place

4. (reflexive) to get on; get along
5. (reflexive) to get it on; do it (have an amorous relationship)

Conjugation

    Conjugation of entender (e-ie alternation) (See Appendix:Spanish verbs)

infinitive			entender
gerund			entendiendo
past participle				masculine		feminine
		singular		entendido		entendida
		plural		entendidos		entendidas
		singular			plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
indicative		yo	tú vos	él/ella/ello usted	nosotros nosotras	vosotros vosotras	ellos/ellas ustedes
	present	entiendo	entiendestú entendésvos	entiende	entendemos	entendéis	entienden
	imperfect	entendía	entendías	entendía	entendíamos	entendíais	entendían
	preterite	entendí	entendiste	entendió	entendimos	entendisteis	entendieron
	future	entenderé	entenderás	entenderá	entenderemos	entenderéis	entenderán
	conditional	entendería	entenderías	entendería	entenderíamos	entenderíais	entenderían
subjunctive		yo	tú vos	él/ella/ello usted	nosotros nosotras	vosotros vosotras	ellos/ellas ustedes
	present	entienda	entiendastú entendásvos2	entienda	entendamos	entendáis	entiendan
	imperfect (ra)	entendiera	entendieras	entendiera	entendiéramos	entendierais	entendieran
	imperfect (se)	entendiese	entendieses	entendiese	entendiésemos	entendieseis	entendiesen
	future1	entendiere	entendieres	entendiere	entendiéremos	entendiereis	entendieren
imperative		—	tú vos	usted	nosotros nosotras	vosotros vosotras	ustedes
	affirmative		entiendetú entendévos	entienda	entendamos	entended	entiendan
	negative		no entiendas	no entienda	no entendamos	no entendáis	no entiendan

¹Mostly obsolete, now mainly used in legal language.
²Argentine and Uruguayan voseo prefers the tú form for the present subjunctive.

    Selected combined forms of entender (e-ie alternation)

These forms are generated automatically and may not actually be used. Pronoun usage varies by region.

		singular			plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
with infinitive entender	dative	entenderme	entenderte	entenderle, entenderse	entendernos	entenderos	entenderles, entenderse
	accusative	entenderme	entenderte	entenderlo, entenderla, entenderse	entendernos	entenderos	entenderlos, entenderlas, entenderse
with gerund entendiendo	dative	entendiéndome	entendiéndote	entendiéndole, entendiéndose	entendiéndonos	entendiéndoos	entendiéndoles, entendiéndose
	accusative	entendiéndome	entendiéndote	entendiéndolo, entendiéndola, entendiéndose	entendiéndonos	entendiéndoos	entendiéndolos, entendiéndolas, entendiéndose
with informal second-person singular tú imperative entiende	dative	entiéndeme	entiéndete	entiéndele	entiéndenos	not used	entiéndeles
	accusative	entiéndeme	entiéndete	entiéndelo, entiéndela	entiéndenos	not used	entiéndelos, entiéndelas
with informal second-person singular vos imperative entendé	dative	entendeme	entendete	entendele	entendenos	not used	entendeles
	accusative	entendeme	entendete	entendelo, entendela	entendenos	not used	entendelos, entendelas
with formal second-person singular imperative entienda	dative	entiéndame	not used	entiéndale, entiéndase	entiéndanos	not used	entiéndales
	accusative	entiéndame	not used	entiéndalo, entiéndala, entiéndase	entiéndanos	not used	entiéndalos, entiéndalas
with first-person plural imperative entendamos	dative	not used	entendámoste	entendámosle	entendámonos	entendámoos	entendámosles
	accusative	not used	entendámoste	entendámoslo, entendámosla	entendámonos	entendámoos	entendámoslos, entendámoslas
with informal second-person plural imperative entended	dative	entendedme	not used	entendedle	entendednos	entendeos	entendedles
	accusative	entendedme	not used	entendedlo, entendedla	entendednos	entendeos	entendedlos, entendedlas
with formal second-person plural imperative entiendan	dative	entiéndanme	not used	entiéndanle	entiéndannos	not used	entiéndanles, entiéndanse
	accusative	entiéndanme	not used	entiéndanlo, entiéndanla	entiéndannos	not used	entiéndanlos, entiéndanlas, entiéndanse

Derived terms

• darse a entender
• Dios me entiende
• entendérselas
• malentender

Related terms

• entendible
• entendimiento
• entesar

Descendants

• → Tagalog: intindi

Noun

entender m (plural entenderes)

1. understanding; opinion
   • 1877, Benito Pérez Galdós, Gloria:

     No podía apartarlas de mi pensamiento y, según mi entender, discurría acertadamente sobre ellas.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Further reading

• “entender”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 2024 December 10