I can dig it vs I get it vs I understand

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

I can dig it

Informal Top 5,000 (fairly common)

I get it

Informal Top 2,000 (common)

I understand

Top 1,000 (very common)

Most formal: I understand Most common: I understand

	I can dig it	I get it	I understand
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //aɪ kæn dɪɡ ɪt// 🇺🇸 //aɪ kæn dɪɡ ɪt//	🇬🇧 //aɪ ɡɛt ɪt// 🇺🇸 //aɪ ɡɛt ɪt//	🇬🇧 //aɪ ˌʌndərˈstænd// 🇺🇸 //aɪ ˌʌndərˈstænd//
Meaning	I understand and appreciate it.	I understand	I know what you mean.
Example	When she talked about her passion for painting, I thought, 'I can dig it.'	When she explained the project, I said, 'I get it!'	After the explanation, I understand the topic much better now.
Register	Informal	Informal	Neutral
How common	Top 5,000 (fairly common)	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
Collocations	I can dig it, totally dig it, can you dig it, really dig it, I dig that	get it now, get it right, get it together	I understand you, I understand clearly, I understand fully, I understand the issue, I understand the problem
Common mistakes	Used in formal settings where more conventional phrases are expected., Misunderstood as a literal action, instead of an expression of agreement.	Using it too formally, such as in a business meeting., Confusing it with 'I don't get it' when expressing confusion., Overusing it in responses instead of varying expressions.	Confused with 'I don't understand'., Inappropriately used in negative contexts., Omitting 'I' and just saying 'understand'.
Usage notes	Used in casual conversations to express agreement or understanding. Often found in music or youth culture contexts.	Used in casual conversation to show understanding. Avoid in formal writing or situations.	Used to show comprehension. Appropriate in both casual and formal contexts. Avoid in very formal writing.

See it in real clips

Breaking Bad › S1 E2

I can... I can dig it.

I can dig it

Avengers › Avengers Endgame

Tony. I get it.

I get it

Avengers › Avengers Infinity War

I understand, my child.

House Of Cards › S1 E1

I understand, but you've got to be reasonable.

I understand you've run through the agent training program.

Avengers › Avengers Infinity War

I understand, my child.

House Of Cards › S1 E1

I understand, but you've got to be reasonable.

I understand

Frequently asked questions: I can dig it vs I get it vs I understand

What's the difference between I can dig it, I get it, and I understand?

I can dig it: I understand and appreciate it. I get it: I understand I understand: I know what you mean.

Which is more formal: I can dig it, I get it, and I understand?

I understand is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: I can dig it, I get it, and I understand?

I understand is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

I can dig it: When she talked about her passion for painting, I thought, 'I can dig it.' I get it: When she explained the project, I said, 'I get it!' I understand: After the explanation, I understand the topic much better now.

Can I use I can dig it, I get it, and I understand interchangeably?

Not always. I can dig it, I get it, and I understand are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.