I don't understand in Italian is Non capisco (non kah-PEE-skoh). When you have just missed what someone said, Italians more often use Non ho capito, I didn't catch that, after Scusi (to someone you call Lei) or Scusa (tu). Follow it with Può ripetere, per favore? to a stranger or Puoi ripetere? to a friend.
- I don't understand
- Non capisco
- I didn't catch that
- Non ho capito
- Could you repeat that? (Lei)
- Può ripetere?
- More slowly, please (Lei)
- Più lentamente, per favore
- Level
- A1
Non capisco or non ho capito?
Non capisco is about the present: a language, a situation, a person's behaviour. Non ho capito is about the sentence that has just gone past you, which is usually what a learner means.
| Italian | English | When |
|---|---|---|
| Non capisco. | I don't understand. | In general; also "I don't get it" |
| Non ho capito. | I didn't understand. | Right after someone speaks |
| Scusi, non ho capito. | Sorry, I didn't catch that. | A stranger or staff (Lei) |
| Scusa, non ho capito. | Sorry, I didn't catch that. | A friend (tu) |
| Come, scusi? | Sorry? Pardon? | Polite, quick (Lei) |
| Non capisco l'italiano. | I don't understand Italian. | Telling someone up front |
| Non ci capisco niente. | I can't make head or tail of it. | Informal, exasperated |
Non always goes straight before the verb. In a Contos A1 comedy, a cleaning robot emails a mother's work files to her boss, and her colleague phones in a panic:
Non capisce cosa sta succedendo.Capisce is also the Lei form, so Non capisce? asks a stranger "Don't you understand?"
How do you ask someone to repeat or slow down?
Use può with someone you call Lei and puoi with tu. Piano literally means softly, but in this phrase it means slowly.
Può ripetere, per favore?
Could you repeat that, please?
Lei
Puoi ripetere?
Can you say that again?
tu
Può parlare più lentamente?
Could you speak more slowly?
Lei
Puoi parlare più piano?
Can you speak more slowly?
tu
Cosa vuol dire «scontrino»?
What does "scontrino" mean?
Come si dice «receipt» in italiano?
How do you say "receipt" in Italian?
If the conversation is going nowhere, see how to ask "Do you speak English?" in Italian.
How do you use capire and ho capito?
Capire adds -isc- in four of its present forms, and the sound shifts with the vowel after it: capisco is kah-PEE-skoh, but capisci is kah-PEE-shee.
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| io capisco | I understand |
| tu capisci | you understand (tu) |
| lui, lei, Lei capisce | he, she understands; you understand (Lei) |
| noi capiamo | we understand |
| voi capite | you all understand |
| loro capiscono | they understand |
To confirm you have understood something just said, Italians say Ho capito (got it) rather than capisco. In a Contos A2 thriller, a courier who has delivered the wrong parcel gets a threatening message that ends Dimmi che hai capito (tell me you've understood), and replies:
Marco digita "Ho capito" con le mani che tremano.Capisco on its own is often sympathy rather than comprehension: Capisco, mi dispiace means I understand, I'm sorry.
Read A1 Italian stories and tap any word you don't understand to see its meaning straight away.
Read free in your browserFrequently asked questions
How do you say I don't speak Italian?
Non parlo italiano. If you speak a little, Parlo solo un po' di italiano (I only speak a little Italian) usually gets people to slow down for you.
What does capito mean?
Capito? is short for hai capito?, "got it?". The answer is Sì, capito or just Capito! It is informal; with someone you call Lei, the full question is Ha capito?
Is non comprendo correct?
It is correct Italian, but bookish. Comprendere is used in writing and formal speech; in everyday conversation people say non capisco.
What is the difference between non capisco and non lo so?
Non capisco is "I don't understand". Non lo so is "I don't know", for when you understood the question but don't have the answer.