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How to Say ‘I don't know it’ in French

Je ne connais pas

zhuh nuh koh-neh pah

[zhuh nuh koh-neh pah]

💬 Usage Tip: Use connaître for being familiar with a show, place or person. Savoir is for knowing facts or how to do something.

Phrase Breakdown

Je ne

zhuh nuh

I don't (start of the negation)

The start of the negation 'ne… pas'. Say 'zhuh nuh' softly and quickly.

Example

Je ne sais pas.

I don't know.

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.

connais pas

koh-neh pah

know (it) not

'Connais' comes from 'connaître' (to know or be familiar with) and is said 'ko-nay'. 'Pas' completes the negation.

Example

Je connais pas ce film.

I don't know this movie (casual).

Words in this phrase

connais

[koh-neh]

know

To be aware of or familiar with.

Example

Je connais bien cette chanson.

I know this song well.

pas

[pah]

not

Used with 'ne' to form a negative.

Example

Je ne comprends pas.

I do not understand.

Guides for French learners

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.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.

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