SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/de-ich-verstehe-nicht

How do you say 'I don't understand' in German?

Ich verstehe nicht means I don't understand.

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  1. Ich weiß nicht.
  2. Ich habe Hunger.
  3. Ich verstehe nicht. ✔

Why: Ich verstehe nicht means you don't understand the words. Ich weiß nicht means 'I don't know', which is a different problem.

Huh, didn't know that: Pair it with 'Wie bitte?' to ask for a repeat, then 'Sprechen Sie Englisch?' for backup.

The dad joke
My German teacher said Ich verstehe nicht. I said that is the first sentence I understood.
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References

Answer: Ich verstehe nicht.. Ich verstehe nicht means you don't understand the words. Ich weiß nicht means 'I don't know', which is a different problem.

  1. Wiktionary: ich verstehe nicht en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ich_verstehe_nicht
    ich verstehe nicht I don't understand.
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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