“Nos entendemos” is the everyday way to say you get each other, and a few add-ons show how well and in what sense.
You can translate “we understand each other” a few ways in Spanish, and each one lands a little different. Some versions feel warm and personal. Others sound like agreement on a plan, or clean communication at work. Pick the wrong line and you may still be understood, yet the tone can drift.
Below you’ll get the Spanish that people reach for in real conversations, plus small tweaks that make your meaning clear. You’ll also get quick grammar checks so you can say it with confidence in chats, texts, and work messages.
What Spanish speakers usually say
If you want the natural, everyday line, start with Nos entendemos. It’s short and common across Spanish-speaking places. In many settings it also hints at “we get along,” so it can sound a bit warmer than the English.
When you want to point to smooth communication, add bien: Nos entendemos bien. That one word signals that you communicate clearly and you’re on decent terms.
When you want zero ambiguity, you can spell out the “each other” part with a reciprocal phrase: Nos entendemos el uno al otro (or la una a la otra, depending on the people). The RAE explains how reciprocal pronouns work and how “el uno al otro” can make the meaning more precise. RAE: los pronombres recíprocos
We Understand Each Other in Spanish With Natural Phrases
Here are the most useful options, from casual to formal. Each one is correct, yet each one fits a different moment.
Nos entendemos
Use this when you mean “we get each other” in a broad sense. It works for friends, couples, teammates, and classmates. In context, it can also carry “we get along.”
Nos entendemos bien
Use this when you want to stress that communication flows. It’s also a gentle way to say you’re aligned without sounding stiff.
Nos entendemos el uno al otro
Use this when you want to remove any chance of confusion. It’s longer, so it shows up more in writing, careful speech, or emotional moments where you want clarity.
Nos comprendemos
This one leans toward empathy and emotional understanding. It can sound deeper than entender. In day-to-day talk, many people still stick with entender, yet comprender is a solid choice when you mean “we relate to each other.”
Nos entendemos en español
If you’re talking about language ability, this is a clean fix: you keep the natural verb and add the language. It tells the listener you can communicate in Spanish, even if you’re still learning.
Why one short phrase can mean two things
Spanish often uses the same surface phrase to cover two close ideas:
- Understanding as in “we grasp each other’s meaning.”
- Getting along as in “we don’t clash; we click.”
Nos entendemos can sit in either lane, depending on what you were talking about right before you said it. If you were talking about a plan or instructions, it points to clarity. If you were talking about a relationship, it can point to harmony.
Spanish also has a pronominal form, entenderse, that often leans toward that “get along” sense. The RAE’s usage notes give practical guidance on entender and entenderse in different constructions. RAE: entender, entenderse
Build the phrase around what you mean
Try this fast method: pick your base, then add a short tag that signals the type of understanding.
When you mean clear communication
Use Nos entendemos or Nos entendemos bien, then add a detail about the task.
- Nos entendemos bien con el plan. (We’re clear on the plan.)
- Nos entendemos bien por mensaje. (We communicate well by text.)
- Nos entendemos bien cuando hablamos despacio. (We do fine when we speak slowly.)
When you mean you “get” each other as people
Use Nos entendemos with a human detail. This is where it can sound warm without being dramatic.
- Nos entendemos sin hablar mucho. (We get each other without talking a lot.)
- Nos entendemos incluso cuando no estamos de acuerdo. (We still get each other even when we disagree.)
- Nos entendemos porque pensamos parecido. (We get each other because we think similarly.)
When you mean empathy and emotional understanding
Use Nos comprendemos or add a phrase that points to feelings.
- Nos comprendemos en momentos difíciles.
- Nos entendemos en lo que sentimos.
When you need a formal tone
Work messages often benefit from clear wording. Keep it direct.
- Creo que nos entendemos. (I think we’re aligned.)
- ¿Nos entendemos sobre los pasos? (Are we aligned on the steps?)
- Quiero confirmar que nos entendemos. (I want to confirm we’re aligned.)
What the verb means and why it matters
Entender is “to understand,” and it covers a few everyday senses: grasping an idea, knowing how something works, or interpreting meaning. The RAE dictionary entry lists these uses and points to its conjugation model. RAE: entender (DLE)
In conversation, you’ll hear it in quick lines like No entiendo (I don’t get it) and Te entiendo (I understand you). When both sides matter, Spanish often uses a reciprocal pronoun form: Nos entendemos.
One more nuance: Te entiendo can mean “I follow you” and also “I sympathize.” Tone and context decide which one lands.
Table of the best options and when to use them
Use this table as a pick-list. Choose the line that matches the moment, then say it out loud a few times so it feels natural.
| Spanish line | Best use | Notes to keep it natural |
|---|---|---|
| Nos entendemos | General “we get each other” | Also implies “we get along” in relationship talk |
| Nos entendemos bien | Clear communication + good vibe | Add a detail: por mensaje, hablando despacio, con el plan |
| Nos entendemos el uno al otro | Extra clarity in writing or emotional moments | Longer; sounds deliberate, not casual slang |
| Nos comprendemos | Empathy, emotional understanding | Often feels more personal than entender |
| Nos entendemos en español | Language ability | Useful when both of you are learning or mixing languages |
| Creo que nos entendemos | Work alignment | Softens the tone while staying clear |
| Quiero confirmar que nos entendemos | Closing a plan or decision | Pairs well with a short recap in the next sentence |
| Nos entendimos | Past moment of understanding | Use when you mean “we got it” at that time |
Small grammar points that stop mistakes
These are the spots where learners trip: pronouns, tense, and what you’re claiming.
Entender vs. entenderse
Entender is the base verb: you understand something or someone. Entenderse is pronominal and often points to two people getting along or managing to communicate. If you’re not sure, Nos entendemos is the safest bet in most settings.
When “each other” needs to be spelled out
Spanish can clarify reciprocity with phrases like el uno al otro. This is also why adding “mutuamente” is often redundant. The Instituto Cervantes forum explains that, since the reciprocal pronoun already carries the meaning in many sentences. Centro Virtual Cervantes: “mutuamente” and reciprocal pronouns
Choosing the right past tense
Nos entendimos is a finished moment: you got it, then moved on. Nos entendíamos can suggest an ongoing situation in the past: you used to communicate well, or you were getting along during that period.
Softening a strong claim
“We understand each other” can sound like a big statement. If you want to keep it light, add a softener:
- Creo que nos entendemos bien.
- Me parece que nos entendemos.
- Diría que nos entendemos.
Table of common slip-ups and clean fixes
These corrections keep your Spanish sounding natural without overthinking it.
| Slip-up | Better Spanish | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Entendemos juntos | Nos entendemos | Spanish uses the reciprocal pronoun for “each other” |
| Nos entendemos mutuamente | Nos entendemos | The pronoun already carries reciprocity in many sentences |
| Nos entendemos en todo | Nos entendemos en esto | “In everything” can sound sweeping; be specific |
| Nos entendemos perfecto | Nos entendemos a la perfección | More idiomatic phrasing |
| Nos entendemos para el plan | Nos entendemos con el plan | A more natural preposition choice in many settings |
| ¿Entiendes me? | ¿Me entiendes? | Object pronouns go before the conjugated verb |
| Nos entendimos bien siempre | Siempre nos entendimos bien | Adverbs often sit naturally at the start in this pattern |
Short practice that makes it stick
Memorizing one line won’t help when the conversation shifts. Try this instead: pick one base phrase and swap the ending detail. It trains your mouth and your timing.
Three mini drills
- Speed drill: Say “Nos entendemos” five times, then add one detail each time: “por mensaje,” “en clase,” “con el plan,” “cuando hablas despacio,” “cuando repetimos.”
- Role drill: Say it as a text message, then as a work line, then as a warm line to a friend. Keep the words almost the same and shift your tone.
- Past drill: Swap present to past: “Nos entendemos” → “Nos entendimos” → “Nos entendíamos.” Say one short context line after each.
A quick self-check before you hit send
- Is this about language ability? Add “en español.”
- Is this about agreement on a task? Add the task detail: “con el plan,” “sobre los pasos.”
- Is this about feelings? Use “nos comprendemos” or add “en lo que sentimos.”
Polite ways to ask if you’re understanding each other
Sometimes you don’t want to state it; you want to check. These lines keep it friendly:
- ¿Nos entendemos?
- ¿Me explico bien?
- ¿Te hace sentido? (Common in parts of Latin America)
- ¿Estamos de acuerdo?
If you get a confused look, don’t panic. Swap to simpler Spanish and keep going. That’s the real win.
References & Sources
- Real Academia Española (RAE).“Los pronombres recíprocos.”Explains reciprocal pronouns and how “el uno al otro” can clarify meaning.
- Real Academia Española (RAE).“entender, entenderse.”Usage notes on the verb and its pronominal form.
- Real Academia Española (RAE).“entender (Diccionario de la lengua española).”Definitions and core senses of “entender.”
- Instituto Cervantes (Centro Virtual Cervantes).“Uso superfluo del adverbio ‘mutuamente’.”Shows why “mutuamente” is often redundant with reciprocal pronouns.