About This Lesson
Use Basic understanding and knowledge to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
Ahora entiendo.
ah-OH-rah en-TYEN-doh I understand now.
B
No entiendo.
noh en-TYEN-doh I do not understand.
A
No sé.
noh SAY I do not know.
B
¿Qué quieres decir?
KAY KYEH-rehs deh-SEER What do you mean?
A
¿Me entiendes?
meh en-TYEN-dehs Do you understand me?
B
¿Lo conoces?
loh koh-NOH-sehs Do you know him?Word by Word
Ahora
“Ahora” means “now” in “Ahora entiendo.” It places the understanding at the present moment and commonly comes before the verb, as in “Ahora entiendo.” Use it when you have just understood something in a conversation.
entiendo
“entiendo” expresses “I understand” in “Ahora entiendo.” Together with “Ahora,” it says that the speaker understands at this point; the form itself refers to the speaker. Use “entiendo” to show understanding when responding to an explanation.
No
“No” makes the following verb negative in “No entiendo” and “No sé.” It comes directly before the verb in these expressions. Use it when saying that you do not understand or do not know something.
sé
“sé” means “I know” in “No sé,” so “No sé” means “I do not know.” The accent is part of this exact form. Use “No sé” when you do not have the requested information.
Qué
“Qué” means “what” in the question “¿Qué quieres decir?” It asks for the meaning or intended message of what someone said. Use it at the beginning of a question when asking what someone means.
quieres
“quieres” is the form used for “you want” in “¿Qué quieres decir?” With “decir,” the whole expression asks “What do you mean?” Use “quieres” with “decir” in this question when asking someone to clarify their message.
decir
“decir” means “to say” or “to mean” in “¿Qué quieres decir?” Here, its meaning comes from the whole expression “¿Qué quieres decir?”, which asks about someone’s intended meaning. Use it in this expression when you need clarification.
Me
“Me” means “me” in “¿Me entiendes?” and shows who is being understood. It appears before “entiendes” in this question. Use “Me” before a verb when asking whether another person understands you.
entiendes
“entiendes” means “you understand” in “¿Me entiendes?” With “Me,” the question asks whether the other person understands the speaker. Use “entiendes” in this question when checking communication with another person.
Lo
“Lo” means “him” in “¿Lo conoces?” and identifies the male person known by the listener. It comes before “conoces” in this question. Use “Lo” before a verb when asking whether someone knows or is acquainted with a particular man.
conoces
“conoces” means “you know” or “you are acquainted with” in “¿Lo conoces?” Together with “Lo,” the question asks whether the listener knows him personally. Use “conoces” with a person as the object when asking about acquaintance.
Grammar Points
¿Qué quieres decir?
¿Qué quieres decir?
KAY KYEH-rehs deh-SEERWhat do you mean?
Querer + infinitive asks what someone wants to do or means; decir remains in the infinitive.
No sé qué + infinitive
No sé qué decir.
noh SAY kay deh-SEERI don't know what to say.
No comes before the verb to make it negative; sé is the yo form of saber.
Spanish Vocabulary
ahora
adv
ah-OH-rah
now
Ahora entiendo.
conocer
verb
koh-noh-SEHR
to know; to be acquainted with
conoces
¿Lo conoces?
decir
verb
deh-SEER
to say; to mean
¿Qué quieres decir?
entender
verb
en-tehn-DEHR
to understand
entiendo
Ahora entiendo.
lo
pron
LOH
him
¿Lo conoces?
me
pron
MEH
me
¿Me entiendes?
no
adv
NOH
not
No entiendo.
qué
pron
KAY
what
¿Qué quieres decir?
querer
verb
keh-REHR
to want
quieres
¿Qué quieres decir?
saber
verb
sah-BEHR
to know
sé
No sé.
Quiz
Word Order
Arrange the words in the correct order.
I understand now.
Show Answer
Ahora entiendo.I do not understand.
Show Answer
No entiendo.I do not know.
Show Answer
No sé.Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
to say; to mean
Show Answer
decirto want
Show Answer
quieresnow
Show Answer
ahorato understand