😕❓

How to Say ‘I didn't quite understand’ in Italian

Non ho capito bene

nohn oh kah-PEE-toh BEH-neh

[nohn oh kah-PEE-toh BEH-neh]

💬 Usage Tip: Italian uses the past here, non ho capito, where English might say "I don't understand". Adding bene softens it to "not quite".

Phrase Breakdown

Non ho capito

nohn oh kah-PEE-toh

I didn't understand

This is the past tense of 'capire'. The 'h' in 'ho' is silent. Stress ca-PI-to.

Example

Non ho capito la domanda.

I didn't understand the question.

Words in this phrase

Non

[nohn]

not

This word negates the verb that follows it.

Example

Non c'é nessuno.

There is no one.

[oh]

I have

First person singular of avere, used with a past participle to form the present perfect.

Example

Ho parlato con tre aziende oggi.

I have spoken with three companies today.

capito

[kah-PEE-toh]

understood

Past participle of 'capire', to understand.

Example

Non ho capito la domanda.

I didn't understand the question.

bene

[BEH-neh]

well / fine

With 'andare', expresses that something suits someone.

Example

Ti va bene alle otto?

Is eight o'clock fine for you?

Guides for Italian learners

Duolingo vs Busuu: Which Is Better for Actually Improving?Duolingo vs Busuu compared: a free gamified habit versus structured levels with corrections from native speakers. Which to choose, and when to use both.

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