Portuguese Phrase
Te entendo.
Meaning
Literally “I understand you.” It is a quick, empathetic way to let someone know you grasp what they are saying or feeling.
When to use
Use it in informal conversations with friends, family, or peers when you want to confirm you follow their point, story, or emotion. In formal settings replace "te" with "você" (e.g., "Eu entendo você").
✦Grammar Breakdown
Teentendo
Pronoun "te"
"te" is the clitic pronoun for second‑person singular (you) used in informal contexts; it attaches before the verb.
Verb "entender" (present 1st person)
"entendo" is the first‑person singular present indicative of "entender", meaning “to understand”.
🗨In Conversation
Não consigo explicar o que sinto agora.
I can’t explain what I’m feeling right now.
Te entendo.
I understand you.
✕Common Mistakes
Te entendes.
"Entendes" is second‑person singular; the correct subject is "eu" (I), so you need "entendo".
Eu te entendo.
While grammatically correct, the redundant subject is rarely used in casual speech; native speakers simply say "Te entendo".
↔Alternatives
Eu te compreendo.
I comprehend you.
Eu entendo você.
I understand you.
Entendo.
I understand.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, "te" is used only in informal speech. When speaking with strangers, elders, or in professional contexts, switch to the more formal "você" or the full subject‑object construction "Eu entendo você". In Portugal the clitic "te" is also informal, but you’ll hear the pronoun placed after the verb in some regions (e.g., "Entendo‑te").