Spanish · 0:32
Ways to say “I have no idea” in Spanish
Compare no sé with more emphatic ways to say you have no idea. Listen to each phrase and choose one for an ordinary conversation.
By Fabling · A shared lesson, free to watch
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Spanish from the video
Read the Spanish, then check its English meaning. Listen again when you want to hear the phrasing.
No sé.
I don't know.
No tengo ni idea.
I have no idea.
No tengo la menor idea.
I don't have the slightest idea.
No tengo ni la más remota idea.
I don't have the faintest idea.
No tengo ni pajolera idea.
I don't have the freakin' foggiest.
A closer look
No sé is a simple, neutral answer. Longer expressions add emphasis, not necessarily useful information.
Pajolera is colloquial and can sound coarse; it is especially associated with Spain. Use no tengo ni idea when you want a broadly useful alternative.
The video uses level labels to arrange its examples. Treat these as variations to explore, not a test of your level or a rule that longer phrases are better.
Your turn
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Someone asks a question you cannot answer. Give a neutral reply.
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No sé. — I don’t know.
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