misunderstand
word
/ˌmɪsəndɝˈstænd/
mis-uhn-dur-STAND
/mɪsˌʌndəstˈænd/
mis-uhn-duh-STAND
Definition
To not understand something or someone correctly, often leading to confusion or mistakes.
Usage & Nuances
Often used when talking about communication problems. Common phrases: 'Don't misunderstand me' or 'I misunderstood what you said'. The past tense is 'misunderstood'. Not the same as 'not understand': 'misunderstand' suggests getting the wrong idea, not lacking understanding.
Spanish: malinterpretar - entender malPortuguese (BR): interpretar mal - entender erradoPortuguese (PT): interpretar mal - perceber malChinese (Simplified): 误解Chinese (Traditional): 誤解Hindi: गलत समझनाArabic: يسيء الفهمBengali: ভুলভাবে বোঝা - ভুল বোঝাRussian: неправильно понять - неправильно пониматьJapanese: 誤解するVietnamese: hiểu lầmKorean: 오해하다Turkish: yanlış anlamakUrdu: غلط سمجھناIndonesian: salah paham - salah mengerti
Example Sentences
I often misunderstand his instructions.
basic
Please don't misunderstand my words.
basic
Sometimes, I misunderstand jokes in English.
basic
If I misunderstand you, just let me know.
natural
We all misunderstand each other sometimes—it's normal.
natural
Don't worry, I didn't mean to misunderstand your point.
natural