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How to say “I don't understand” in 16 languages

Here is “I don't understand” in all 16 languages Crossing covers, with each language's regional variants side by side. Every version shows the native script, a romanization where the script isn't Latin, and a pronunciation guide written for English speakers, with notes on formality and other forms.

EnglishI don't understand

Spanish Español

French Français

German Deutsch

Italian Italiano

  • Italy

    Non capisco

    nohn kah-PEES-koh

    More ways to say this

    • Non ho capito

      nohn oh kah-PEE-toh

      The usual way to say you didn't catch what was just said.

    Italian travel phrases

Portuguese Português

Greek Ελληνικά

  • Greece

    Δεν καταλαβαίνω

    Den katalavaíno

    dhen kah-tah-lah-VEH-noh

    Greek travel phrases

Turkish Türkçe

  • Türkiye

    Anlamıyorum

    ahn-LAH-muh-yoh-room

    For something just said, "Anlamadım" (ahn-LAH-mah-duhm) is just as common.

    Turkish travel phrases

Russian Русский

Hindi हिन्दी

  • India

    मुझे समझ नहीं आया

    Mujhe samajh nahīṅ āyā

    moo-JHAY SUH-mujh nuh-heen AA-yaa

    Hindi travel phrases

Bengali বাংলা

  • India

    আমি বুঝতে পারছি না

    Ami bujhte parchhi na

    AA-mee BOOJH-tay PAR-chhee naa

    Bengali phrases for India

  • Bangladesh

    আমি বুঝতে পারছি না

    Ami bujhte parchhi na

    AA-mee BOOJH-tay PAR-chhee naa

    Bengali phrases for Bangladesh

Gujarati ગુજરાતી

  • India

    મને સમજાતું નથી

    Mane samjātũ nathī

    MUH-nay sum-JAA-toon nuh-THEE

    Gujarati travel phrases

Mandarin Chinese 中文

  • China

    我听不懂

    Wǒ tīng bu dǒng

    woh ting boo doong

    Use this for speech. For writing you can't read, say "我看不懂" (wǒ kàn bu dǒng).

    Mandarin Chinese travel phrases

Japanese 日本語

Korean 한국어

  • South Korea

    못 알아듣겠어요

    Mot aradeutgesseoyo

    moht ah-rah-deut-kkeh-ssuh-yoh

    Formal

    Korean travel phrases

Arabic العربية

Hebrew עברית

  • Israel

    לא הבנתי

    Lo hevanti

    loh heh-VAHN-tee

    Literally: “I didn't understand”

    Hebrew travel phrases

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