Polish · Greetings & Essentials
"I don't know" in Polish: nie wiem
nie wiem
I don't know in Polish is nie wiem. Nie wiem concerns knowledge of a fact; nie znam means I am unfamiliar with a person, place or thing.
A first use of i don't know
Nie wiem, gdzie jest dworzec.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce nie wiem
Say it
nie viem
/ɲɛ vjɛm/
In nie wiem, ń/ni is a palatal n. The content words in nie wiem normally use penultimate stress when they have multiple syllables.
"I don't know" in Polish: quick reference
| Polish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| nie wiem | I don't know The main expression for i don't know. | The main expression for i don't know. |
| nie mam pewności | I don't know Alternative wording; compare its context and register below. | Alternative wording; compare its context and register below. |
How to use nie wiem in real life
- 1A first use of i don't know
Nie wiem, gdzie jest dworzec.
I do not know where the station is.
This is a natural setting for nie wiem.
- 2A second conversational context
Nie wiem, o której wrócę.
I do not know what time I will return.
Notice how nie wiem fits with the surrounding words here.
- 3Another practical use
Przepraszam, nie wiem.
Sorry, I do not know.
Nie wiem concerns knowledge of a fact; nie znam means I am unfamiliar with a person, place or thing.
Mistakes English speakers make with nie wiem
Incorrect: nie wiedzę
Correct: nie wiem
For this meaning, the complete Polish form is nie wiem. Nie wiem concerns knowledge of a fact; nie znam means I am unfamiliar with a person, place or thing.
Incorrect: ja nie wiedzieć
Correct: nie wiem
Keep the wording and grammatical forms in nie wiem; the proposed form changes or breaks this expression.
Good to know
Nie wiem concerns knowledge of a fact; nie znam means I am unfamiliar with a person, place or thing.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Practice i don't know
Partner
Co powiesz w tej sytuacji?
What will you say in this situation?
You
Nie wiem, gdzie jest dworzec.
I do not know where the station is.
Partner
A w innym kontekście?
And in another context?
You
Nie wiem, o której wrócę.
I do not know what time I will return.
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"I don't know" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "I don't know" in Polish
When should I say nie wiem?
Nie wiem concerns knowledge of a fact; nie znam means I am unfamiliar with a person, place or thing.
Is nie mam pewności another way to say i don't know?
Nie mam pewności is a useful related expression. The main form here is nie wiem; choose the wording that fits the person and context.
What wording should I avoid with nie wiem?
Avoid nie wiedzę. The correct expression is nie wiem; Nie wiem concerns knowledge of a fact; nie znam means I am unfamiliar with a person, place or thing.
Can you show nie wiem in a sentence?
Przepraszam, nie wiem. — Sorry, I do not know.
Use these words in a conversation
Find useful phrases for a situation, learn what to say back, and rehearse your part with revealable sample answers.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
