Hindi · Greetings & Essentials

"I don't understand" in Hindi: मैं समझा नहीं

मैं समझा नहींmain samjha nahin

Say it: main SAM-jhaa na-heenphrase/mɛ̃ː səmdʒʱɑː nəɦĩː/

Note: said by a woman: मैं समझी नहीं (main samjhi nahin)

I don't understand in Hindi is मैं समझा नहीं (main samjha nahin) for a male speaker. A woman says मैं समझी नहीं (main samjhi nahin).

Fast directions

माफ़ कीजिए, मैं समझा नहींधीरे बताइए

maaf kijiye, main samjha nahin — dheere bataie.

Sorry, I don't understand — please tell me slowly.
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How to pronounce मैं समझा नहीं

Say it

main SAM-jhaa na-heen

/mɛ̃ː səmdʒʱɑː nəɦĩː/

Main is like English main. Samjha is SAM-jhaa with a soft jh. Nahin is na-HEEN, often shortened to nahi in speech.

"I don't understand" in Hindi: quick reference

HindiEnglish
मैं समझा नहींmain samjha nahinI don't understand (m.)

Headword masculine form.

मैं समझी नहींmain samjhi nahinI don't understand (f.)

Feminine speaker.

मुझे समझ नहीं आयाmujhe samajh nahin aayaI didn't get it

Very common alternative.

फिर से समझाइएphir se samjhaieplease explain again

Follow-up request.

How to use मैं समझा नहीं in real life

  1. 1Fast directions

    माफ़ कीजिए, मैं समझा नहींधीरे बताइए

    maaf kijiye, main samjha nahin — dheere bataie.

    Sorry, I don't understand — please tell me slowly.

    Full masculine phrase.

  2. 2Class lecture

    यह वाला पॉइंट मैं समझा नहीं

    yah wala point main samjha nahin.

    I don't understand this point.

    Study talk.

  3. 3Woman traveler

    टिकट वाली बात मैं समझी नहीं

    ticket wali baat main samjhi nahin.

    I don't understand the ticket part.

    Feminine samjhi.

Mistakes English speakers make with मैं समझा नहीं

Incorrect: Main samjha nahin (said by a woman)

Correct: Main samjhi nahin

Match the speaker's gender.

Incorrect: Only saying samajh nahin without मैं समझा नहीं when practicing this phrase

Correct: Main samjha nahin / main samjhi nahin

Use the full headword phrase on this page.

Good to know

Indians expect learners to say मैं समझा नहीं without embarrassment — people then slow down or switch to English. Soften with ji or maaf kijiye. Follow with dheere boliye for please speak slowly.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Asking a station clerk to slow down

  1. ChatPal

    प्लेटफ़ॉर्म नंबर तीन पर जाएँ

    platform number teen par jaayen.

    Go to platform number three.

  2. You

    माफ़ कीजिए, मैं समझा नहीं

    maaf kijiye, main samjha nahin.

    Sorry, I don't understand.

  3. ChatPal

    ठीक है, धीरे बताता हूँ

    theek hai, dheere bataata hoon.

    Okay — I'll explain slowly.

  4. You

    धन्यवादअब समझ गया, पहले मैं समझा नहीं

    dhanyavaad — ab samajh aa gaya, pahle main samjha nahin.

    Thanks — now I get it; earlier I didn't understand.

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"I don't understand" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "I don't understand" in Hindi

How do women say it?

Main samjhi nahin.

Another common line?

Mujhe samajh nahin aaya.

What next?

Ask dheere boliye or phir se samjhaie.

Is it rude?

No — it is polite when paired with maaf kijiye.

Learn a word, then use it out loud

  1. Step 1: See it in context
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  3. Step 3: Get feedback
  4. Step 4: Use it in real scenarios

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