Entiendo y Comprendo

Today I realized that both "entiendo" and "comprendo"  mean about the same thing: "I understand." Can you use each in Latin America and Spain? Or, as with "tomar" and "beber," does the phrase you use vary between countries?

Good question. It seems likes in western movies, you always hear "No comprendo, gringo" - or something to that effect. In the various courses that I've followed however, I only hear "No entiendo" - comprender I haven't seen used really. Or at least I can't remember seeing it.

Hopefully someone more knowledgeable than I can weigh in on this.
 

I think they both mean the same thing but "entender" seems to be used when discussing whether we understand words where as "comprender" is used to discuss whether we understand a concept.  I think it is similar to the difference between "to understand" and "to comprehend" in English, though that is a bit of a stretch.

Ah!  At least everyone will understand both. This helps. Thanks:)!