Comprehend Languages

Utility

spell that reveals the literal meaning of spoken, signed, and written words, offering

language insight

without breaking ciphers.

2024 Rules

Level & School: 1st-level divination
Casting Time: Action or Ritual
Range: Self
Components: V, S, M (a pinch of soot and salt)
Duration: 1 hour
Classes: Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard
Source: Player's Handbook (2024)

For the duration, you understand the literal meaning of any language that you hear or see signed. 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 symbols or secret messages.

2014 Rules

Level & School: 1st-level divination
Casting Time: Action or Ritual
Range: Self
Components: V, S, M (a pinch of soot and salt)
Duration: 1 hour
Classes: Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard
Source: Player's Handbook (2014)

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.