🇪🇸 Spanish phrases

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

The SPAIKING TeamJuly 27, 2026
no sé
"I don't know" in Spanish · say it like noh seh

The most natural way to say "I don't know" in Spanish is no sé. 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

no tengo idea
used when you want to express a complete lack of knowledge
no lo sé
slightly more emphatic, often used in conversation

When to use it

Use 'no sé' when you genuinely don't have the answer to a question. It's a common phrase in everyday conversations. You can use it in both formal and informal situations. If you want to emphasize your uncertainty, you might choose 'no lo sé'.

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 Spanish

SpanishEnglish
¿Dónde está la biblioteca? No sé.Where is the library? I don't know.
No sé qué hacer en esta situación.I don't know what to do in this situation.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 'no sé' with 'sé que no', which means 'I know that I don't'.

The fastest way to remember it

Vocabulary you only read fades fast. Vocabulary you say out loud sticks. Hear no sé, repeat it a few times, then use it in a real sentence. SPAIKING lets you practice exactly that, speaking Spanish with a coach that corrects your pronunciation in real time. You can start with two free conversations.

Frequently asked questions

Is 'no sé' considered informal?

No, it's appropriate for both formal and informal contexts.

Learn Spanish by speaking it

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