Not Understanding

Level 1

Say Ne razumijem, ask for a repeat, or ask for English.

How It Works

Nobody understands everything at the start, and these phrases help.

PhraseMeaning
Ne razumijem.I do not understand.
Ne razumijem vas.I do not understand you (polite).
Možete li ponoviti?Can you repeat that?
Možete li govoriti sporije?Can you speak more slowly?
Govorite li engleski?Do you speak English?

The word razumijem has the ijekavian spelling -ije-, which is the Bosnian standard. With a friend, use the ti forms: Možeš li ponoviti?

Add molim vas at the end and the request sounds warm: Ponovite, molim vas.

Many people will slow down or use simpler words when you ask.

Examples (4)

  1. Ne razumijem.

    I do not understand.

    Ne comes before the verb razumijem.

  2. Možete li ponoviti, molim vas?

    Could you repeat that, please?

    Možete li is the polite way to ask.

  3. Možeš li govoriti sporije?

    Can you speak more slowly?

    The ti form for a friend.

  4. Govorite li engleski?

    Do you speak English?

    The language comes as a plain word, with no preposition.

Common Mistakes

  • Learners sometimes write the Ekavian spelling.

    Ne razumem.
    Ne razumijem.

    Bosnian uses the ijekavian form razumijem.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Not UnderstandingLevel 1

Learn This First

Saying you do not understand uses ne with a verb.

Words in This Pattern

razumjetiponovitigovoritiengleski