no sé
/ˌno ˈse/
In Spanish, "I don't know" is expressed as no sé. Wiktionary also lists no lo sé and lo ignoro.
Meaning: I don’t know (intj)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| no sé | /ˌno ˈse/ |
| no lo sé | /ˌno lo ˈse/ |
| lo ignoro | /lo iɡnoɾo/ (from spelling rules) |
The phrases in this group are used to express a lack of knowledge or information. You can also use No tengo idea to mean "I have no idea," which functions similarly to no lo sé.
Which one should you use?
no sé is a general way to say "I don't know." In contrast, no lo sé specifically includes the direct object pronoun lo (it), translating more accurately to "I don't know it." For a more sophisticated or formal way to express that you are unaware of a particular fact, you can use lo ignoro, which means "I am unaware of it."
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina and Uruguay, you might hear No tengo ni la más pálida idea.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌno ˈse/
Did you know?
- The word ignoro in lo ignoro comes from the same root as the English word 'ignore', but in Spanish it more frequently means 'I am unaware of it' rather than 'I am choosing to disregard it'.
- In certain contexts, no sé is used as a hedge to soften a statement or avoid sounding too assertive, even when the speaker actually does know the answer.
- The word sé is a homonym in Spanish, as it can also be a form of the verb ser (to be) or saber (to know), which can occasionally cause confusion for beginners.
Examples in context
- Yo ya no sé.I don't know anymore.This sentence shows the use of no sé to mean 'anymore'.Tatoeba #4527035 by cueyayotl, translation #6900628 by kaiperkins271
- No sé por qué.I don't know why.This sentence demonstrates how to use no sé to express not knowing a reason.Tatoeba #861928 by ildefonk, translation #1784975 by Amastan
- Yo no sé ruso.I don't know Russian.This sentence shows how to use no sé when stating you do not know a language.Tatoeba #1386440 by marcelostockle, translation #681310 by Source_VOA
- 889 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are looking for their keys in the living room.
- Javier¿Dónde están las llaves, Alejandro?Where are the keys, Alejandro?
- LucíaNo sé, Sofía.I don't know, Sofía.
- Javier¿Las viste en la mesa?Did you see them on the table?
- LucíaNo, no sé dónde las dejé.No, I don't know where I left them.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I don't know” translations and entries no sé, no lo sé, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
