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How to Say ‘We don't know’ in French

On ne connaît pas

ohn nuh koh-NEH pah

[ohn nuh koh-NEH pah]

💬 Usage Tip: In everyday speech the ne often disappears: you'll hear on connaît pas. Keep ne when writing or speaking carefully.

Phrase Breakdown

On ne

ohn nuh

We don't / One doesn't

The start of a negation. 'On' is nasal and 'ne' is light: 'ohn nuh'.

Example

On ne sait jamais.

You never know.

Words in this phrase

[ohn]

we / people

"On" often means "we" in spoken French, though literally it can mean "one" or "people."

Example

On se soutient dans cette entreprise quand il y a beaucoup de travail.

We support each other in this company when there is a lot of work.

[nuh]

not

Used to make a negative.

Example

Je ne sais pas.

I do not know.

connaît pas

koh-NEH pah

know (not)

'Connaître' means to know a person or place. 'Connaît' sounds like 'ko-nay', with a silent t.

Example

Je ne le connaît pas bien… — Il ne connaît pas Paris.

He doesn't know Paris.

Words in this phrase

connaît

[koh-NEH]

knows

Form of 'connaître' (to know a person or place), third person singular.

Example

Elle connaît bien Paris.

She knows Paris well.

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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