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How to Say ‘I don't understand’ in French

Je ne comprends pas

zhuh nuh kohm-PRAHN pah

[zhuh nuh kohm-PRAHN pah]

💬 Usage Tip: In everyday speech, the ne is often dropped, so you will frequently hear Je comprends pas. Keep the full version for polite careful speech, but learn to recognize both.

Phrase Breakdown

Je ne

zhuh nuh

I (do) not

The start of a negation. Say it smoothly as 'zhuh nuh'. In casual speech, the 'ne' is often dropped.

Example

Je ne mange pas.

I'm not eating.

Words in this phrase

[zhuh]

Pronoun used by the speaker to identify themselves.

Example

Je suis content.

I am happy.

[nuh]

not

Used to make a negative.

Example

Je ne sais pas.

I do not know.

comprends pas

kohm-PRAHN pah

understand (not)

'Comprends' is pronounced 'kohm-prahn', and the 'ds' is silent. 'Pas' completes the negation.

Example

Je comprends pas, désolé.

I don't get it, sorry.

Words in this phrase

comprends

[kohm-PRAHN]

understand

From comprendre; used when talking about understanding a lesson or instruction.

Example

Tu comprends la consigne maintenant ?

Do you understand the instruction now?

pas

[pah]

not

Used with 'ne' to form a negative.

Example

Je ne comprends pas.

I do not understand.

Guides for French learners

Ordering in French: Cafés, Bakeries and Restaurants (with Menu Vocabulary)How to order in French at a café, a bakery and a restaurant: the phrases, the questions staff ask, and the menu and food vocabulary to understand the answers.Hello in French: Greetings, Good Evening and How to Answer "How Are You?"How to say hello in French, when to switch to good evening, how to ask how are you and what to answer, with tu vs vous and native audio.

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