entendre

Senses

1. 1.

   to hear

   to perceive sound with one's ears

2. 2.

   to understand

   to comprehend or grasp the meaning of something

3. 3.

   to intend

   to mean or have as a purpose (often in negative or formal contexts)

4. 4.

   to agree

   to reach an understanding or accord (reflexive: s'entendre)

Examples

• "J'ai entendu un bruit étrange la nuit dernière."

  I heard a strange noise last night.

• "Tu as entendu ce qu'il a dit?"

  Did you understand what he said?

• "Je n'entends pas vous être malheureux."

  I do not intend for you to be unhappy.

Usage

Entendre is one of the most common French verbs. The senses "to hear" and "to understand" are distinct in French in ways they aren't always in English. The phrase "bien entendu" (of course) is idiomatic. S'entendre means "to get along" or "to agree"; "entendre parler de" means "to hear about."