In the vast and intricate world of Portuguese language learning, the verbs entender and intender often cause confusion among learners due to their similar spellings and sounds. However, these two verbs convey distinctly different meanings and are used in very different contexts. Understanding the nuances of each verb can significantly enhance your fluency and comprehension of Portuguese.
The verb entender is a regular verb in Portuguese and is equivalent to the English verb ‘to understand’. It is used to express comprehension of information, languages, people, or situations. When you want to articulate that you grasp the meaning or concept of something, entender is the verb to use.
Eu entendo o que você está dizendo. – I understand what you are saying.
In this example, the speaker confirms comprehension of the words spoken by another person. Similarly, entender can be used to indicate understanding in broader contexts:
Ele entende muito sobre computadores. – He understands a lot about computers.
Here, entender is used to describe a person’s depth of knowledge in a particular subject area, indicating not just momentary comprehension but an overall understanding.
Contrary to entender, the verb intender is not commonly used in modern Portuguese. It is an archaic verb, which means ‘to intend’ or ‘to plan,’ and its usage is mostly restricted to very formal or literary contexts. In contemporary language, the verb tencionar or pretender is typically used instead to express the intention or plan.
El rei intende fortificar a cidade. – The king intends to fortify the city.
In this historical or literary context, intender is appropriate and adds a flavor of antiquity to the sentence. However, in everyday conversation, a more modern equivalent would be preferable:
Ele pretende fortificar a cidade. – He intends to fortify the city.
This sentence uses pretender, which is the contemporary way to express intentions or plans in Portuguese.
The key difference between these verbs lies in their usage and meaning. Entender relates to comprehension and understanding, applicable in everyday conversation and writing. On the other hand, intender is about intentions and plans and is rarely used in modern Portuguese, appearing primarily in historical texts or literary works.
To further clarify, here are more sentences using entender:
Eu não entendo por que ela ficou tão chateada. – I don’t understand why she got so upset.
Você entende as instruções? – Do you understand the instructions?
And using the modern equivalent of intender:
Ela pretende estudar medicina. – She intends to study medicine.
Nós tencionamos começar o projeto em março. – We plan to start the project in March.
Understanding the distinction between entender and intender enriches your ability to communicate effectively in Portuguese. While entender is essential for everyday use, recognizing the historical context of intender (and its modern equivalents) is beneficial for those interested in Portuguese literature or formal texts. Mastery of these verbs enhances not only your vocabulary but also your appreciation for the nuances of the Portuguese language.
