Извините, я не понимаю.

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Breakdown of Извините, я не понимаю.

• не: not
• извините: excuse me
• понимать: to understand

Questions & Answers about Извините, я не понимаю.

What does the sentence Извините, я не понимаю mean, and when would I use it?

It means "Excuse me, I don't understand." You can use this sentence in any conversation when you want to signal politely that you failed to catch what was said. It’s useful in situations like asking someone to repeat themselves or clarifying unclear instructions.

How is the sentence grammatically structured?

The sentence consists of two parts. Извините is an imperative form of the verb извинять ("to excuse") used as a polite interjection. Я не понимаю breaks down as follows: Я means "I," не is the negation "not," and понимаю is the first-person singular present tense of понимать ("to understand"). Together, they form a clear statement that the speaker does not understand.

What is the difference between Извините and Извини?

Извините is the formal (or plural) imperative form used when addressing strangers, elders, or in formal settings. Извини is the informal version applied when speaking with friends or people you know well. Using the correct form is important in Russian to match the level of politeness required by the context.

How is the verb понимаю conjugated, and what does its form indicate?

Понимаю is the first-person singular present tense form of понимать. The ending indicates that the subject is я ("I"). Although Russian often allows the subject pronoun to be dropped because the verb ending implies it, including я here adds clarity and emphasis, especially for learners or in situations where misunderstanding could occur.

Are there any pronunciation tips for saying Извините, я не понимаю correctly?

Yes. For Извините, try pronouncing it as iz-vee-NEE-tye, with stress on the third syllable. Я sounds like ya with a soft y sound. In не понимаю, не is pronounced like nye (with a soft beginning), and понимаю can be broken down into pa-nee-MAI-yu, with the main stress on the MAI syllable. Listening to native speakers and practicing slowly can help you master the correct intonation and rhythm.