entender
to understand
To understand something or someone
Encoding Strategies:
linguistic
intend
to plan to do
+
-er
verb suffix
Entender means to understand and is related to the English word intend0. When you intend to do something, you understand exactly what you plan to do.
entender
to understand, to comprehend
To grasp the meaning of something.
No entiendo la preguntaI don't understand the question
Los científicos aún no logran entender este fenómenoScientists still can't comprehend this phenomenon (still can't understand this phenomenon)
to think, to believe (opinion)
Your take on a situation is how you understand it. English does the same thing with "It's my understanding that..."
Entiendo que es mejor salir tempranoI think it's better to leave early (I understand that it's better to leave early)
Entendemos que el proyecto estará listo el viernesWe believe the project will be ready on Friday (We understand that the project will be ready)
to know about (with "de")
If you understand a lot about engines, you know engines. The "de" marks the subject you understand.
Mi tío entiende mucho de motoresMy uncle knows a lot about engines (understands a lot about engines)
No entiendo nada de arte modernoI know nothing about modern art (I understand nothing about modern art)
entenderse
to understand each other
When two or more people understand each other.
Mi hermana y yo nos entendemos sin hablarMy sister and I understand each other without speaking
Después de tantos años, los dos socios se entienden perfectamenteAfter so many years, the two partners understand each other perfectly
to get along (with "con")
People who understand each other get along. One person is the subject, but it's still reciprocal — like the English phrase, "I get along with her," where a mutual thing is phrased from one person's side.
Me entiendo muy bien con mis compañeros de trabajoI get along very well with my coworkers
Nunca me entendí con mi suegraI never got along with my mother-in-law
dar a entender
to imply, to hint
Literally "to give to understand": instead of saying it outright, you let the other person understand it on their own.
Me dio a entender que no vendría a la fiestaHe implied that he wasn't coming to the party (He gave to understand that he wasn't coming to the party)
Con su silencio, dio a entender que estaba molestaWith her silence, she hinted that she was upset (she gave to understand that she was upset)
a mi entender
in my opinion, to my mind
Literally "to my understanding," as in your personal understanding of things. Used to introduce an opinion.
A mi entender, el plan tiene un problema serioIn my opinion, the plan has a serious problem (To my understanding, the plane has a serious problem)
A mi entender, esa decisión fue un errorTo my mind, that decision was a mistake (To my understanding, that decision was a mistake)