Spanish · Real conversations
Say you do not know naturally in Spanish
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
No sé.
I don't know.
A simple honest answer when you do not know a fact.
No estoy seguro / segura, pero puedo averiguarlo.
I'm not sure, but I can find out.
Acknowledge uncertainty and offer a realistic next step.
No sé lo suficiente sobre eso para opinar.
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
¿Quién escribió este libro?
Who wrote this book?
No sé.
I don't know.
Finding out an office's opening time
¿Sabes a qué hora abre la oficina?
Do you know when the office opens?
No estoy seguro / segura, pero puedo averiguarlo.
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
No sé lo suficiente sobre eso para opinar.
I don't know enough about that to give an opinion.
This speaking goal in other languages
A note on speaking Spanish
These guides use broadly understandable Latin American Spanish. Tú is familiar and usted is respectful or formal, with important regional variation. Me gustaría and ¿podría …? are useful for considerate requests.
Keep accent marks and opening question marks. Some regions choose different everyday words. Follow the complete example rather than substituting English words one by one, especially with pronouns and expressions of preference.
