"Non ho capito cos'ha detto."

Translation: I have not understood what he said.

[stayzon8]

I have never seen the elision of cosa before to cos'ha. Is it common?

[sociophobia]

Yes, it is! It's the abbreviation of "Cosa Ha", that means "What does he/she have?" (literally "what has"). Tell me if you have more questions!

[MintySciurus]

Thanks. That makes sense, since the h in ha isn't pronounced, without the abbreviation you'd end up with two 'a' sounds together.

[jamdunk]

Thanks for your advice & enthusiasm, sociophobia.

[phosporousman7]

I have the same question, too.

[MariaIramendy]

neither have I. This is stupid. Someone who doesn't understand Italian.

[blanc.thibault]

Couldn't the 'ha detto' work as a polite 'you said'?

[f.formica]

It could; report it if you stumble upon it again :)

[KarenColle]

Could this also be translated as "I didn't understand what was said"?

[Marninger]

Non = not
ho capito = I understood
cos' (=cosa) = what
ha detto = he/she/You said

I did not understand what he/she/You said.

[WalterZAMB4]

So why doesn't it accept 'she'?

[killary45]

I rarely see the polite form in this course. I wonder if someone who has not done Italian before even knows that there is a polite form. And yet talking to strangers - which is generally what we will do most of in a foreign country - you normally use the polite form.

[MagnesiumSodium]

forma di cortesia will be covered in a comming lesson, they just left it out so as to not confuse matters.

[gordon_gregory]

I agree with what you say. I tend to use the "voi" form when talking to strangers.

[MagnesiumSodium]

Actually you should use Lei, because that's the forma di cortesia, not voi (unless you're talking to a group)

[PattyinRoma]

I noticed one of the following lessons is titled "formal", so I think the lessons on polite speech is coming up. Grazie a Lei!

[wshvet]

Apparently it does! I lucked out, and puzzled for a moment as to why my "mis"translation was marked correct...

[Wambembalubu]

Could be a motto for duolingo

[Punderstatement]

This sentence doesn't specify gender does it? Because if not it's bloody perfect for the audio machine.

[Margaret_S]

It does not specify gender. The default gender is 'he'.

[Francesca12991]

Speaking of which, what do others think of this "new guy" Duolingo is using? I find his annunciations are not as clear as the woman's, and he speaks SO fast!!! :(

[Duesseldutchie]

I agree

[NgRoots]

Maybe the single most important sentence in every newly learned language

[nuovaforesta]

Why not I don't understand what he said?

[wshvet]

Because of the tense - you suggested "I DO not understand what he said". Duo is looking for "I DID not understand what he said" (and maybe you DO, now...)

[Lag_Incarnate]

Well now it's saying that "did not understand" is incorrect, probably to keep the "ho = have" lesson

[jamesjiao]

I have not understood is another option. This implies that you didn't understand and you still don't understand.. but you are hopeful that you will understand soon.

[poftim]

Although Duo is getting us to use a past tense, I think "non ho capito" does translate to "I don't understand" (present) in a lot of situations.

[pinky738990]

This is more weirdness in English. Why wouldn't you just say, "I didn't understand what he said?" Extremely awkward English.

[nancy334644]

why not, "I didn't understand what he said"

[mark6w]

Idiomatically, it's completely appropriate, regardless of whether DL agrees (IMO, based on living in Italy for the past 6+ years)

[adion]

Accepted. (Oct. '20)

[Williamssi61905]

Why not what she said

[lebo_bebo]

Could it not be 'the thing/things he has said,' since cose/così mean things and both end in a vowel so would be contracted as in the sentence above? It means exactly the same in English.

[Margaret_S]

That would be passive form, which uses essere as past participle.

[ZoranMilokanovic]

Why two times present perfect is not a valid answer? I tried with 'I have not understood what has she said.'

[f.formica]

The problem isn't using the present perfect, it's using the question word order in a subordinate sentence; that's wrong in English.

[mark6w]

Lol, I already use this a lot in my daily dealings (with scavatore, idraulici, vicini, etc) ;)

[bmr209]

Can you use "che" here instead of "cosa"?

[MariaIramendy]

stayzon8 is totally right. I wonder where DL got the elision in cos'ha. I understand that nowadays the elision is less frequently used. If someone is interested in learning the elision there is a page for that http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/elisione_(La-grammatica-italiana)/

[crollyanne]

Don't think many English speakers would say "I have not understood' in preference to 'I don't understand' in this context.

[NgRoots]

Well, story of my life :-D

[LizRosetta]

what was said, what being used as noun and thus 3rd person sing.

[wxfrog]

Very apropos for the audio. :-/

[invernessie]

Why is the first roll over answer for "ho capito" found out? Additionally why wouldn't the program accept it to be a correct translation

[blackofe]

i guess it can be also translated as "i didn't hear what you said".

[meandmyshadow0]

Why isnt "UNDERSTAND" excepted

[Zia993605]

I used 'I don't understand what he said' and DL says it's wrong!?!?

[Manana922]

Ho capito is in the past tense. I don't understand is present tense.

[RobertWill713455]

"what" and 'anything' mean the same thing, in this situation.

[Manana922]

Why not, "I have not understood things she said."

[mark6w]

The closest I can think of for what you are asking is "non ho capito le cose ha detto."

[ChrissyCurbPL]

Would someone explain how we use Ci siamo capiti on one example and then use Non ho capito in another. I thought you must use either "to be" ( essere) or "to have" (avere) but not both! How can we tell when to use which one? We were instructed to use essere when motion is involved and that is all. How does capiti involve motion??

[Isabell819676]

Why is" I don't understand what he/ she said "not accepted?

[moxuhs]

Why is 'what it said' wrong?

[AoDes216]

"I don't understand what he said."
That should've been right, right?

[TimTreffry]

"I did not understand what he said" wasn't accepted June 2021

[lou758441]

I don't understand what he said. Unaccepted. Why?

[Elpithalem]

I think it is too early for past tense , I am still trying to understand all the variations of the present tense.
I will have to get a grammar book to study these tenses , as I find myself translating Duolingo exercises parrot type and not understanding the syntax .

[Elpithalem]

The dictionary translates non ho capito , I don’t understand also I have not understood , how can we have two different translations?

[ClarkBates2]

Is there anyway to know if it's "he said" or "she said" in this instance without greater context?

[KevJaMatt96]

This translation sounds awkward to me, I think "I did not understand..." sounds much better.

[MariaIramendy]

Mr. DL where did you get that there is an elision in this sentence?

[MariaIramendy]

I've checked the Internet and no where I found the elision as it is shown here. Any madrelingua would be able to explain if this elision is correct?

[MariaIramendy]

Could someone show me a grammar where the elision cos'ha detto is explained? I am more than frustrated with the inconsistencies in the use of the elision. Mr DL could it be possible to be in the same page?

[EdithA.Tressl]

Maybe you ask "sociophobia" on this page. She explains it and offers more information if needed. Just read the entries ahead.

[Calafia77]

I have to say I have never used that sentence in English ever. I would say I do not understand what he said.