🇰🇷 Korean phrases

How to Say "I don't know" in Korean

The SPAIKING TeamJuly 27, 2026
모르겠어요
"I don't know" in Korean · say it like mo-reu-ge-sseo-yo

The most natural way to say "I don't know" in Korean is 모르겠어요. Tap the speaker above to hear it, then say it back out loud. That is the fastest way to make it stick.

Other ways to say it

몰라요
more casual and commonly used among friends
모르겠습니다
more formal, used in polite contexts

When to use it

You can use '모르겠어요' when you genuinely do not know something. It is polite and can be used in most situations. For casual conversations, you might prefer '몰라요'. In formal settings, '모르겠습니다' is more appropriate.

Say it out loud, get corrected

Reading it is not the same as saying it. Practice "I don't know" and thousands more with an AI coach that listens.

Examples in Korean

KoreanEnglish
그 문제에 대해 모르겠어요.I don't know about that issue.
이 질문의 답을 모르겠어요.I don't know the answer to this question.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse '모르겠어요' with '모르다', which is the dictionary form and not used in conversation.

The fastest way to remember it

Vocabulary you only read fades fast. Vocabulary you say out loud sticks. Hear 모르겠어요, repeat it a few times, then use it in a real sentence. SPAIKING lets you practice exactly that, speaking Korean with a coach that corrects your pronunciation in real time. You can start with two free conversations.

Frequently asked questions

When should I use '모르겠어요'?

Use it when you want to politely express that you do not know something.

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