compreni pas

I Do Not Understand

Level 1

Two short phrases help you in every conversation: one says you are lost, and one asks for a repeat.

How It Works

Use these phrases when you need help.

SayMeaning
Compreni pas.I do not understand.
Compreni un pauc.I understand a little.
Pòdes repetir?Can you repeat? (to a friend)
Podètz repetir?Can you repeat? (polite)

Compreni is the first person of comprene. The word pas follows the verb, as in every Occitan negative sentence.

Pòdes and podètz are forms of poder (to be able to). The vowel is open in pòdes (ò) and plain in podètz (o), because the stress moves. After poder, the next verb stays in the infinitive: repetir.

To be more polite, add se vos plai at the end: Podètz repetir, se vos plai?

Examples (5)

  1. Compreni pas.

    I do not understand.

    Pas follows the verb compreni.

  2. Compreni un pauc.

    I understand a little.

    Un pauc means a little.

  3. Pòdes repetir?

    Can you repeat?

    Pòdes is the tu form of poder, followed by the infinitive.

  4. Podètz repetir, se vos plai?

    Can you repeat, please?

    Podètz is the vos form, so it is polite.

  5. Parli pas plan occitan.

    I do not speak Occitan well.

    Pas follows the verb parli.

How It Connects

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

compreni pasLevel 1I Do Not Understand

Learn This First

Saying that you do not understand uses the polite request to repeat, so Se vos plai comes first.

Words in This Pattern

comprenerepetirpoder