몰라
molla[mo̞ɭɭa̠]informal
The English phrase "I don't know" is translated into Korean as 몰라 (molla). Wiktionary also lists 모르겠어요 (moreugesseoyo).
Meaning: I don’t know (intj)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 몰라 | molla | [mo̞ɭɭa̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) | informal |
| 모르겠어요 | moreugesseoyo | formal |
Which one should you use?
While 몰라 is a direct way to say you do not know, the form 모르겠어요 functions as a softened version, often meaning "I'm not sure".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
몰라 is an informal form used in casual speech with friends or people younger than you. In contrast, 모르겠어요 is a polite and formal way to express this. You can also use 잘 모르겠습니다 as a formal way to say "I don't know".
How does it change in a sentence?
The dictionary form of the verb is 모르다. The informal form 몰라 is a contraction of this base verb. In the polite form 모르겠어요, the addition of the element –겠– makes the statement sound less blunt and more indirect, which is a common feature of polite Korean.
How do you pronounce it?
molla
Did you know?
- The word 몰라 is frequently used as a cute or flirtatious response in romantic contexts, often meaning 'I'm not telling you' rather than a lack of knowledge.
- If you use the short form 몰라 with a stranger or a superior, it can sound incredibly dismissive, almost like saying 'Whatever' or 'I don't care'. This is because the lack of polite endings removes the social buffer required in Korean speech.
- When you want to be extremely polite, you use 잘 모르겠습니다. The addition of 잘 (well) actually makes the phrase sound more humble by implying you might know something, but you do not know it 'well' enough to answer confidently.
Examples in context
- 난 과학에 대해 잘 몰라.I don't know much about science.This sentence shows how to say you do not know much about a specific subject using 몰라.Tatoeba #8363686 by Eunhee, translation #6130474 by mailohilohi
- 누가 소문을 내기 시작했는지 난 몰라.I don't know who started the rumor.This sentence uses 몰라 to express not knowing the person who started a rumor.Tatoeba #8366715 by Eunhee, translation #6251772 by CK
- 톰 사촌이 몇 명인지, 그런 건 몰라.I don't know how many cousins Tom has.This sentence uses 몰라 to state that you do not know a specific detail about someone's family.Tatoeba #13148474 by SN_H, translation #5851227 by CK
- 17 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Jihoon and Minji are talking about their homework.
- 지훈 Ji-hun민지야, 이 문제 답이 뭐야?Minji-ya, i munje dabi mwoya?Minji, what is the answer to this problem?
- 민지 Min-ji미안, 나도 몰라.Mian, nado molla.Sorry, I don't know either.
- 지훈 Ji-hun진짜? 너무 어렵다.Jinjja? Neomu eoryeopda.Really? It's too hard.
- 민지 Min-ji선생님께 같이 여쭤보자.Seonsaengnim-kke gat-i yeojjwoboja.Let's ask the teacher together.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I don't know” translations and entries 몰라, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
