Verbos encendidos #2: Comprender
'Verbos Encendidos' is an invitation to address some of the most pressing issues in contemporary society, from a thematic approach and from multiple perspectives. In 2026, the verb suggested to underpin much of the programme is “Comprender” (To Understand).
With ‘Listening’ as the pretext for many of the activities we enjoyed in 2025, and following the listening process created last year, in which more than a thousand users of La Casa Encendida participated, the Verbo Encendido for 2026 will be Understanding.
To develop the programme, we have drawn on various readings and collaborations, which have allowed us to explore the verb while taking its etymology into account. Comprender comes from the Latin comprehendere and originally refers to a physical gesture of embracing, holding and encompassing, not just an abstract mental act. In a fragmented, fast-paced and polarised world where we tend to simplify the complex, talking about understanding is a way of resisting that simplification and vindicating encounter. Understanding as an ethical practice: accepting that the other is ungraspable and yet committing to the attempt to embrace them. It is a way of making the world a little more liveable.
Understanding as a cross-cutting theme allows it to be addressed by different areas of programming and exemplifies the cross-cutting nature of La Casa Encendida. The activities are spread throughout the year, with diverse types and themes, naturally incorporating themselves into existing programming spaces or complementing them.
