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How to Say ‘I don't know’ in French

Je ne sais pas

zhuh nuh seh pah

[zhuh nuh seh pah]

💬 Usage Tip: In casual speech the ne usually vanishes, leaving something like (shay-pah). You'll hear that far more than the full version.

Phrase Breakdown

Je ne

zhuh nuh

I (do) not

Subject plus the first half of the negation 'ne...pas'. Both 'e' sounds are soft: 'zhuh nuh'.

Example

Je ne mange pas.

I don't eat.

Words in this phrase

Je

[zhuh]

I

Pronoun used by the speaker to identify themselves.

Example

Je suis content.

I am happy.

ne

[nuh]

(negation) not

Negation particle used with another negative word (ne… rien). In speech, it can be dropped, but it’s standard in writing.

Example

Ne me raconte rien sur l’anime, je veux garder la surprise.

Don’t tell me anything about the anime, I want to keep the surprise.

sais pas

seh pah

know not

'Sais' is from 'savoir' (to know) and is pronounced 'say'. 'Pas' completes the negation and is pronounced 'pah'. The final 's' is silent in both words.

Example

Je ne sais pas pourquoi.

I don't know why.

Words in this phrase

sais

[seh]

know

From savoir; with an infinitive, it often means “know how to.”

Example

Qu'est-ce que tu sais faire ?

What can you do?

pas

[pah]

not

Used with 'ne' to form a negative.

Example

Je ne comprends pas.

I do not understand.

Related guides

Hello in French: Greetings, Good Evening and How to Answer "How Are You?"How to say hello in French, when to switch to good evening, how to ask how are you and what to answer, with tu vs vous and native audio.Common French Phrases You'll Use Every Day (with Native Audio)The common French phrases and expressions people actually use every day: greetings, polite essentials, reactions and casual slang, with meanings and native audio.

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