ni idea
/ˌni iˈdea/
The English phrase 'no idea' can be translated into Spanish using ni idea or no sé.
Meaning: I don't know (intj)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| ni idea | /ˌni iˈdea/ |
| no sé | /ˌno ˈse/ |
Ni idea is an informal expression meaning no idea. The phrase no tienes ni idea can be used both literally to mean 'you don't know' and figuratively to mean 'you have no clue about the gravity/extent of a situation'. For more emphasis, you can use the colloquial expression ni idea de nada to mean 'no idea at all' or the informal phrase no tengo ni la menor idea to mean 'I have absolutely no idea'.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ni idea literally translates to 'not even an idea'.
Which one should you use?
Ni idea is a more emphatic and informal way to say 'I don't know' compared to no sé.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'I have no idea' in a full sentence, you use the verb tener (to have) in the form no tengo ni idea.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌni iˈdea/
Did you know?
- The word ni in ni idea is a descendant of the Proto-Indo-European word *nekʷe, which combined 'not' and 'and'. This makes it a distant relative of the Irish word nach.
- While no sé is a simple statement of fact, using ni idea can sometimes sound dismissive or even rude depending on your tone, as it implies a total lack of even the slightest thought on the matter.
- Depending on the region, a speaker might shrug their shoulders and slightly raise their eyebrows when saying ni idea to visually signal total ignorance.
Examples in context
- No tienes ni idea…You have no idea.This sentence shows how to use ni idea to say 'You have no idea.'Tatoeba #6147095 by Shishir, translation #2282934 by Hybrid
- Lo siento, no tengo ni idea.I'm sorry, I have no idea.This sentence uses ni idea to express 'I have no idea.'Tatoeba #558657 by Shishir, translation #269536 by CK
- No sé por qué pone esa cara.I have no idea why she's making that face.This sentence demonstrates the use of no sé to mean 'I have no idea' in a specific context.Tatoeba #6591372 by arh, translation #9169368 by DJ_Saidez
- 81 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are in a kitchen looking for a lost key.
- Elena¿Sabes dónde dejé mis llaves?Do you know where I left my keys?
- AlejandroNi idea, Elena.No idea, Elena.
- ElenaSeguro que las viste tú.I am sure you saw them.
- AlejandroDe verdad que no las he visto.Truly, I haven't seen them.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “no idea” translations and entries ni idea, no sé, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries idea, ni, no, sé, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
