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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 drops and the rest blurs together: Je sais pas sounds like (shay-pah).

Phrase Breakdown

Je ne

zhuh nuh

I don't

'Je' (I) + 'ne' (the first half of the negation). Say it lightly: 'zhuh nuh'.

Example

Je ne comprends pas.

I don't understand.

Words in this phrase

[zhuh]

Pronoun used by the speaker to identify themselves.

Example

Je suis content.

I am happy.

[nuh]

not

Used to make a negative.

Example

Je ne sais pas.

I do not know.

sais pas.

seh pah

know

'Sais' is from 'savoir' (to know), and 'pas' completes the negation. Pronounced 'seh pa'. In casual speech this often becomes 'chais pas'.

Example

Je sais pas où il est.

I don't know where he is.

Words in this phrase

sais

[seh]

know

Form of 'savoir' with 'je'.

Example

Je sais cuisiner.

I know how to cook.

pas

[pah]

not

Used with 'ne' to form a negative.

Example

Je ne comprends pas.

I do not understand.

Guides for French learners

The Most Common French Verbs: the 20 You'll Actually UseThe 20 most common French verbs, with the present-tense forms you need, real example sentences with native audio, and two shortcuts for past and future.Ordering in French: Cafés, Bakeries and Restaurants (with Menu Vocabulary)How to order in French at a café, a bakery and a restaurant: the phrases, the questions staff ask, and the menu and food vocabulary to understand the answers.

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