Comprehend Languages 5e
Level 1 Divination • Ritual
Comprehend Languages is a level 1 divination spell in D&D 5e. Casting time: 1 action, range: Self, duration: 1 hour. Available to Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard.
Casting Time
1 action
Range
Self
Duration
1 hour
Components
V, S, M (a pinch of soot and salt)
For the duration, you understand the literal meaning of any spoken language that you hear. You also understand any written language that you see, but you must be touching the surface on which the words are written. It takes about 1 minute to read one page of text.
This spell doesn't decode secret messages in a text or a glyph, such as an arcane sigil, that isn't part of a written language.
Spellcasting & Tactical Insights
Action Economy
Standard Action • Primary turn investment.
Concentration
No Concentration • Safe to stack with persistent effects.
School Role
Divination: Gathers knowledge, scries distant locales, and foretells events. Ideal for DM information dumps and player scouting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What level spell is Comprehend Languages and what school does it belong to?
Comprehend Languages is a Level 1 spell belonging to the school of Divination in D&D 5e.
What are the casting time, range, and duration of Comprehend Languages?
Comprehend Languages has a casting time of 1 action, range of Self, and duration of 1 hour.
Does Comprehend Languages require concentration or ritual casting?
No, Comprehend Languages does not require Concentration. It can also be cast as a Ritual.
Use Comprehend Languages in your campaign
Dungeon Manager lets you add Comprehend Languages to your characters, reference it during sessions, and track spell slots across encounters — all free.