In order to be able to effectively communicate in German, knowing how to say I don't know in German is key. This is especially truthful when you are just starting out on your High german learning journey.

In the get-go, your tutor or friend may quiz y'all about how to say a certain word in High german, and you likely won't know. As a beginner, this is completely normal, and you'll find the phrase "I don't know", or Ich weiß es nicht to be particularly helpful.

Depending on the context, there may be better ways of proverb I don't know in German language other than Ich weiß es nicht. We'll go through them all in this postal service!

I Don't Know in German at a Glance

All the Way to Say I Don't Know in German

I don't know in German Ich weiß es nicht

Standard ways of proverb I don't know

Ich weiß es nicht

Ich weiß es nicht is the most simple and straightforward way of saying "I don't know" in German. But just note that, weiß also means "white".

German

Jonas: Wieviel Uhr ist es?
Julia: Ich weiß es nicht.

English language

Jonas: What time is it?
Julia: I don't know.

Read adjacent: Negation in German language – Difference Between Nein, Nicht and Kein

You can also enhance this phrase past adding adjectives betwixt the es "information technology" and the nicht "not" such as leider "unfortunately", überhaupt "not at all" or wirklich "actually".

German

  1. Ich weiß es leider nicht.
  2. Ich weiß es überhaupt nicht.
  3. Ich weiß es wirklich nicht.

English

  1. Unfortunately, I don't know.
  2. I have no thought.
  3. I actually don't know.

Das weiß ich nicht

A common variation of the previous phrase is das weiß ich nicht which ways "I don't know that". It's the correct answer when you are asked virtually something specific.

German language

Jonas: Weißt du wo Max ist?
Julia: Das weiß ich nicht.

English

Jonas: Do you know where Max is?
Julia: I don't know that.

Casual ways of proverb I don't know

Da bin ich überfragt

Da bin ich überfragt literally translates to "I am over asked" merely means something like "I have no clue". Y'all can apply it in more coincidental settings. If y'all want to, yous can follow it up past saying aber ich kann nachschauen which means "but I can look it upward".

German

Julia: Wo ist der Bahnhof?
Jonas: Da bin ich überfragt.

English

Julia: Where'southward the railroad train station?
Jonas: I have no clue.

Ich habe keine Ahnung

Ich habe keine Ahnung means "I accept no idea". You lot can add absolut "admittedly" or gar keine "none at all"  in between habe "take" and keine "no". This phrase is also often abbreviated to Keine Ahnung "no idea". It is the least formal choice in this list.

German

  1. Ich habe absolut keine Ahnung.
  2. Ich habe keine gar keine Ahnung

English language

  1. I have admittedly no idea.
  2. I have no idea.

Kein Programme

Kein Plan ways "no program" or "no idea" and is a vernacular expression used within a younger demographic. In text messages it is often abbreviated kp.

German

Julia: Was machst du heute Abend?
Jonas: Kein Plan.

English language

Julia: What are y'all doing this night?
Jonas: No idea.

Other German Expressions for I don't know

Nicht dass ich wüsste

If you are looking for a more vague choice you can go with Nicht dass ich wüsste "not equally far as I know".

German

Julia: Sind noch Tomaten im Kühlschrank?
Jonas: Nicht dass ich wüsste.

English

Julia: Are there any tomatoes left in the fridge?
Jonas: Not as far every bit I know.

Wer weiß?

For an even more vague and cryptic choice attempt wer weiß which translates to "who knows".

German

Julia: Wird es heute regnen?
Jonas: Wer weiss?

English

Julia: Will it rain today?
Jonas: Who knows?

Woher soll ich das wissen?

Be careful with this next pick, Woher soll ich das wissen? "How should I know" can hands come up across equally a snippy, slightly disrespectful remark in German language.

German

Julia: Ist Lisa noch zu Hause?
Jonas: Woher soll ich das wissen?

English

Julia: Is Lisa still at home?
Jonas: How should I know?

Da fragst du den Falschen

Da fragst du den Falschen "you are asking the incorrect person" is a mutual breezy expression you can utilize when you accept no idea what the other person is talking about. If you are a woman you would say Da fragst du die Falsche.

High german

Julia: Wie macht human Linzertorte?
Jonas: Da fragst du den Falschen.

English

Julia: How do you lot brand Linzer cake (a typical German language dessert)?
Jonas: You are asking the wrong person

Frag mich was Leichteres

Another informal expression that is like to "I don't know" is Frag mich was Leichteres which translates to "ask me something easier".

German

Julia: Wo ist die Weihnachtsdeko?
Jonas: Frag mich was Leichteres.

English language

Julia: Where is the Christmas decoration?
Jonas: Ask me something easier.

Conclusion

Germans have countless ways of saying "I don't know" and aren't agape to acknowledge that they simply don't know something. Younger generations tend to utilise a more informal language than older ones. If y'all don't know and desire to inquire for assistance you lot tin say Ich brauche Hilfe "I need help", Kannst du es mir zeigen? "Can y'all show me" or Wie geht das? "How does information technology work?".

Sarah was born and raised in Frg by a French mom and a Polish dad. Languages are her passion and education is her purpose. She splits her life betwixt Germany and Republic of honduras.