Portuguese · Real conversations
Say you do not know naturally in Portuguese
It is useful to say when information is missing. Give a short honest answer, offer to find out if you can, or explain that you lack enough knowledge to form an opinion.
Three ways to say it
Não sei.
I don't know.
A simple honest answer when you do not know a fact.
Não tenho certeza, mas posso descobrir.
I'm not sure, but I can find out.
Acknowledge uncertainty and offer a realistic next step.
Não sei o suficiente sobre isso para dar uma opinião.
I don't know enough about that to give an opinion.
Explain why you are not ready to give an informed opinion.
Avoid translating word by word
English 'find out' means obtain information, not locate something outdoors. The target-language phrase may use a verb for checking, asking, or learning; keep that information-seeking meaning.
See the difference in context
A question about a book's author
Quem escreveu este livro?
Who wrote this book?
Não sei.
I don't know.
Finding out an office's opening time
Você sabe a que horas o escritório abre?
Do you know when the office opens?
Não tenho certeza, mas posso descobrir.
I'm not sure, but I can find out.
Your turn
Someone asks for an opinion on an unfamiliar subject. Say you do not know enough about it to give an opinion.
Reveal a sample reply
Não sei o suficiente sobre isso para dar uma opinião.
I don't know enough about that to give an opinion.
This speaking goal in other languages
A note on speaking Portuguese
These guides use Brazilian Portuguese. Você is a common everyday address; senhor or senhora may fit a more formal interaction. Eu gostaria and poderia can soften requests without making them complicated.
Keep the accents and nasal spellings, such as não and conexão. Portuguese in Portugal may use different everyday vocabulary or pronouns. The examples aim for broadly understandable Brazilian wording.
