I Don’t Understand.

Learn how to say "I don't understand"

Dialogue

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Vocabulary (Review)

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Lesson Notes

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Lesson Transcript

Today, we shall see a very useful phrase, meaning "I don't understand." It is very useful because many times you won't immediately understand what people are saying.

In Greek, "I don't understand" is Δεν καταλαβαίνω (Den katalavéno).

Δεν καταλαβαίνω (Den katalavéno)

Let's break it down by syllable: Den ka-ta-la-ve-no.

Now let's hear it one more time, Δεν καταλαβαίνω (Den katalavéno)

The first word, Δεν (Den), means "don't."

Let's break down this word slowly now: Δεν (Den).

Δεν (Den)

Καταλαβαίνω (Katalavéno), which in Greek is "(I) understand," follows this.

Καταλαβαίνω (Katalavéno)

To recap, we have Δεν καταλαβαίνω (Den katalavéno). Literally, this means "I don't understand."

Now let's look at another phrase, Δεν γνωρίζω (Den gnorízo), which means "I don't know."

Let's say it slowly now, Δεν γνωρίζω (Den gnorízo)

Δεν γνωρίζω (Den gnorízo)

The word γνωρίζω (gnorízo) literally means "recognize," but in this case it translates as "know."

Another way to express that you don't understand is asking someone "What does it mean?" This phrase in Greek is Τι σημαίνει; (Ti siméni?)

Τι σημαίνει; (Ti siméni?)

Let's break it down by syllable: Ti si-me-ni?

Now let's hear it once again, Τι σημαίνει; (Ti siméni?)

The first word Τι (Ti) means "what." Let's break down this word again and hear it one more time, Ti.

Τι (Ti)

This is followed by σημαίνει (siméni), which in English means "it means."

σημαίνει (siméni)

To recap here, we have Τι σημαίνει; (Ti siméni?). Literally, this means "What does it mean?"

Okay, to close out today's lesson, we'd like for you to practice what you've just learned. I'll provide you with the English equivalent of the phrase and you're responsible for shouting it out loud. You'll have a few seconds before I give you the answer, so Καλή τύχη (kalí týchi), which means "good luck!" in Greek.

"I don't understand" - Δεν καταλαβαίνω (Den katalavéno)

Δεν καταλαβαίνω (Den katalavéno)

"I don't know." - Δεν γνωρίζω (Den gnorízo)

Δεν γνωρίζω (Den gnorízo)

"What does it mean?" - Τι σημαίνει; (Ti siméni?)

Τι σημαίνει; (Ti siméni?)

All right, that's going to do it for today!

Remember to stop by GreekPod101.com and pick up the accompanying PDF. If you stop by, be sure to leave us a comment. Αντίο! (Antío!)

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