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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 casual speech the ne usually disappears, so you'll often hear Je comprends pas. The pas is what really carries the "not".

Phrase Breakdown

Je ne

zhuh nuh

I don't

First half of the negation 'ne… pas'. In casual speech 'ne' is often dropped.

Example

Je ne sais pas.

I don't know.

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

'Comprends' is 'kom-PRAHN', with a nasal vowel and silent 'ds'. 'Pas' is 'pah'.

Example

Il comprends pas, il dit.

He doesn't get it, he says.

Words in this phrase

comprends

[kohm-PRAHN]

understand

Form of 'comprendre' used with 'je'.

Example

Je comprends l'exercice.

I understand the exercise.

pas

[pah]

not

Used with 'ne' to form a negative.

Example

Je ne comprends pas.

I do not understand.

Guides for French learners

The Most Common French Verbs: the 20 You'll Actually UseThe 20 most common French verbs, with the present-tense forms you need, real example sentences with native audio, and two shortcuts for past and future.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.

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