200 - How to Say “I Don’t Know” in French

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to say “I don’t know” in French.

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Transcript

Bonjour à tous, hello everyone, and welcome back to the French Made Easy podcast.

This is episode 200, numéro deux cents. Today is a short and sweet episode, where you’ll learn how to say: “I don’t know” in French.

As always, if you’re new to the podcast, welcome!

Please make sure you grab your lesson’s cheat sheet so you can follow along while you listen. Now, what we’re learning today is pretty straightforward so there are no exercises for this particular episode, but you can still go over and sign up to the French Made Easy Exercise Library to access all the free practice exercises from the podcast lessons. All the links in the episode notes.

Alright, let’s get started.

HOW TO SAY “I DON’T KNOW” IN FRENCH

“I don’t know” in French is: 

• Je ne sais pas. (I don’t know.)

Here, we’re using the verb savoir (to know), conjugated in the present tense: 

je sais (I know) + with the negation ne…pas that goes around the conjugated verb.

And by the way, if you need a refresher on the full conjugation of the verb savoir in the present tense, you can listen to episode 90 of the French Made Easy podcast.

And, if you need a refresher on how to use negation in French, go back and listen to episode number 36.

Ok so we have:

Je ne sais pas. (I don’t know.)

A note on spoken French…

Now, a quick note. In everyday spoken French, you’ll very often hear: J’sais pas.

Two things happen here:

The ne gets dropped in spoken, fast speech, French, and je can contract to j’.

Listen to the difference:

• Je ne sais pas
• J’sais pas (very common in spoken French)

Now, as always, I teach you the  rule first, so you know what’s the correct way to say it and write it.

But later, when you feel comfortable with your French, then you can break the rule, and when you know that French speakers will understand you.

Plus,  you’ll still see the correct form in writing, so it’s important to recognise it.

EXAMPLES

Ok, now let’s look at a few examples so you can see how this phrase is used in context.

— Est-ce que vous savez où est la gare ? (Do you know where the train station is?)

— Ah non, désolé, je ne sais pas. (Oh no, sorry, I don’t know.)

— Il est quelle heure ? (What time is it?)

— Je ne sais pas, je n’ai pas ma montre sur moi. (I don’t know, I don’t have my watch with me.)

— Tu viens ce soir ou pas ? (Are you coming tonight or not?)

— Je ne sais pas encore. (Oh, I don’t know yet.)

QUICK RECAP

Alright so final recap, to say “I don’t know” in French, you say:

• Je ne sais pas

Et voilà — that’s it for today’s lesson… short and sweet and pretty straightforward, so there are no exercises for today’s episode.

But you can still access to over 150 practice exercises inside the French Made Easy Exercise Library. The link is in the episode notes.

I’ll chat with you next week, bye!