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SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/ru-i-dont-understand

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

Я не понимаю (ya ne ponimayu) means I don't understand.

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  1. Я не понимаю (ya ne ponimayu) ✔
  2. Я не знаю (ya ne znayu)
  3. Я не хочу (ya ne khochu)

Why: Я is I, не is not, and понимаю is 'understand'. Я не знаю means 'I don't know' and я не хочу means 'I don't want to'.

Huh, didn't know that: The verb behind понимаю is понимать (ponimat), 'to understand'.

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Answer: Я не понимаю (ya ne ponimayu). Я is I, не is not, and понимаю is 'understand'. Я не знаю means 'I don't know' and я не хочу means 'I don't want to'.

  1. Wiktionary: я не понимаю en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%D1%8F_%D0%BD%D0%B5_%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%8E
    I don't understand
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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