How do you say "I do not know" in French?

"I do not know" in French is "Je ne sais pas". This phrase is commonly used in France.

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How to Say ‘I do not know’ in French

Q: What does "Je ne sais pas" mean in English?

"Je ne sais pas" means "I do not know" in English. Usage tip: French often wraps the verb with [ne ... pas] to make it negative: [je sais] → [je ne sais pas], [je comprends] → [je ne comprends pas]. In fast speech, people often drop the [ne] and say [je sais pas].

Je ne sais pas

zhuh nuh say pah

[zhuh nuh say pah]

💬 Usage Tip: French often wraps the verb with [ne ... pas] to make it negative: [je sais] → [je ne sais pas], [je comprends] → [je ne comprends pas]. In fast speech, people often drop the [ne] and say [je sais pas].

🇫🇷 In France: [Je sais pas] is extremely common in everyday speech, but [je ne sais pas] is the safer full form for learners and with strangers.

Phrase Breakdown

[zhuh]

I don't know

A way to express ignorance or lack of knowledge.

Example

"Je ne sais pas" où est la station.

"I don't know" where the station is.

[nuh]

I don't know

A way to express ignorance or lack of knowledge.

Example

"Je ne sais pas" où est la station.

"I don't know" where the station is.

sais

[say]

I don't know

A way to express ignorance or lack of knowledge.

Example

"Je ne sais pas" où est la station.

"I don't know" where the station is.

pas

[pah]

I don't know

A way to express ignorance or lack of knowledge.

Example

"Je ne sais pas" où est la station.

"I don't know" where the station is.

Guides for French learners

The Best App to Learn French: An Honest ComparisonDuolingo, Babbel, Pimsleur, Busuu, italki and PrettyFluent compared for learning French: what each is best at, how you pay, and which fits your goal.French Conversation for Beginners: 5 Everyday Dialogues You'll Actually UseFive short French conversations for beginners, from greeting a neighbour to booking a restaurant, with translations, native audio and the phrases that keep them going.

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