몰라
molla[mo̞ɭɭa̠]informal
In Korean, the phrase "I don't know" can be expressed as 몰라 (molla) or 모르겠어요.
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 |
It is derived from the base verb 모르다, which means "to not know". You can add the word 잘 before the verb to emphasize that you do not know something well.
Which one should you use?
The form 모르겠어요 is more polite and softer than the blunt 몰라.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form 몰라 is informal and should only be used with friends or people younger than you, as it can sound blunt or rude to superiors. For a more polite and formal approach, use 모르겠어요. Another formal way to express this is 모르겠습니다.
How does it change in a sentence?
The base dictionary form of the verb is 모르다. The component 모르- is the stem used to build different forms of the verb "to not know".
How do you pronounce it?
molla
Did you know?
- If you are arguing and use the short 몰라! repeatedly, it can function as an emotional outburst similar to saying 'Whatever!' or 'I don't care!' in English.
- Koreans may use 글쎄요 instead of 모르겠어요 when they know the answer but are hesitant to say it or want to be tactful.
- The verb 모르다 is an irregular verb in Korean grammar, meaning its stem changes when combined with certain endings, which is why the 'ㅡ' in 모르- disappears in 몰라.
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 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 indicate a lack of knowledge regarding a specific quantity.Tatoeba #13148474 by SN_H, translation #5851227 by CK
- 죄송하지만 모르겠습니다.I'm sorry, but I don't know.
- 죄송하지만 잘 모릅니다.I'm sorry, but I don't know well.
- 나도 몰라.I don't know either.
- 17 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about where to eat dinner.
- 도현 Do-hyeon오늘 저녁에 뭐 먹을까?oneul jeonyeoge mwo meogeulkka?What should we eat for dinner today?
- 서연 Seo-yeon글쎄, 난 잘 몰라.geulsse, nan jal molla.Well, I don't know.
- 도현 Do-hyeon그럼 비빔밥 먹으러 갈래?geureom bibimbap meogeureo gallae?Then do you want to go eat bibimbap?
- 서연 Seo-yeon응, 좋아!eung, joa!Yes, sounds good!
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.
