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몰라요
How to say I don’t know in Korean A1
몰라요 / 잘 모르겠어요 — soft exits when you blank on a word or a street name.
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Every form, from formal to casual
모르다 is “to not know.” Polite everyday: 몰라요. Softer hedge: 잘 모르겠어요.
| Korean | Romanization | Level | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 몰라요 | mollayo | Polite | I don’t know |
| 잘 모르겠어요 | jal moreugesseoyo | Polite soft | I’m not really sure |
| 기억이 안 나요 | gieogi an nayo | Polite | I can’t remember |
| 모르겠어 | moreugesseo | Casual | Friends only |
Which one do I actually use?
Asked for a street name: 잘 모르겠어요. Class quiz blank: 몰라요. Soften with 죄송해요 first.
Pronunciation notes
- 몰라요
mol-la-yo; ㄹ doubles between 모 and 라.
Vocabulary set
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Quick drill
Common mistakes
- ✗ 모릅니다 to a café barista as default✓ 몰라요 / 잘 모르겠어요모릅니다 is stiff written-formal; 몰라요 fits spoken polite.
Example sentences
죄송해요, 잘 모르겠어요.
joesonghaeyo, jal moreugesseoyo.
Sorry — I’m not sure.
그 길 몰라요.
geu gil mollayo.
I don’t know that road.
FAQ
How do you say I don’t know in Korean?
몰라요. Softer: 잘 모르겠어요.
How do you say I can’t remember?
기억이 안 나요.
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