Bedeutung
Stating lack of knowledge.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Hungarians value honesty. If they don't know something, they will say it directly. However, they often feel bad about not being able to help, so they might follow up with a long explanation of why they don't know. In the busy capital, 'Nem tudom' might be said very quickly. Don't take it as rudeness; it's just the pace of the city. In Hungarian schools, saying 'Nem tudom' is often the last resort. Students are encouraged to try to figure it out or say 'Nem emlékszem' (I don't remember) instead. In villages, 'Nem tudom' might be followed by an invitation to ask someone else who 'knows everything' in the village.
Add 'sajnos'
Adding 'sajnos' (unfortunately) before 'nem tudom' makes you sound much more polite and native-like.
The 'Tudok' Trap
Never say 'Nem tudok' when someone asks you a question. It sounds like you are physically unable to speak.
Bedeutung
Stating lack of knowledge.
Add 'sajnos'
Adding 'sajnos' (unfortunately) before 'nem tudom' makes you sound much more polite and native-like.
The 'Tudok' Trap
Never say 'Nem tudok' when someone asks you a question. It sounds like you are physically unable to speak.
Body Language
A slight shrug and a tilt of the head often accompany 'Nem tudom' in Hungary.
Teste dich selbst
Choose the correct form to say 'I don't know the answer.'
___ a választ.
We use 'tudom' (definite) because 'a választ' (the answer) is a definite object.
Fill in the blank to say 'I don't know yet.'
Még nem ___.
The standard phrase for 'I don't know yet' is 'Még nem tudom.'
Match the response to the situation.
Someone asks you: 'Hol van a mosdó?' (Where is the restroom?) and you are a stranger there.
'Nem tudom' is the correct way to state you lack information about a location's whereabouts.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Ki az a lány? B: Sajnálom, nem ___.
When referring to a person (the girl), you must use 'ismerem' instead of 'tudom'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Tudom vs. Ismerem
Tudom (Facts)
- • Answers
- • The time
- • Phone numbers
- • Addresses
Ismerem (Familiarity)
- • People
- • Cities
- • Books
- • Movies
Aufgabensammlung
4 Aufgaben___ a választ.
We use 'tudom' (definite) because 'a választ' (the answer) is a definite object.
Még nem ___.
The standard phrase for 'I don't know yet' is 'Még nem tudom.'
Someone asks you: 'Hol van a mosdó?' (Where is the restroom?) and you are a stranger there.
'Nem tudom' is the correct way to state you lack information about a location's whereabouts.
A: Ki az a lány? B: Sajnálom, nem ___.
When referring to a person (the girl), you must use 'ismerem' instead of 'tudom'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
12 FragenNo, it's neutral. To be extra polite, say 'Sajnos nem tudom.'
No, 'Nem' just means 'No'. It doesn't mean 'I don't know'.
'Tudom' is for specific things (the answer), 'tudok' is for general abilities.
Use 'Nem ismerem őt.'
In slang, people say 'Passz'.
No, for that use 'Nem tudok' + infinitive (e.g., 'Nem tudok úszni').
It means 'I have no idea' and is a stronger version of 'Nem tudom'.
No, the '-om' ending already tells us it's 'I'. Adding 'Én' adds emphasis.
Use the past tense: 'Nem tudtam.'
Yes, but it's better to follow it with 'de utánajárok' (but I will look into it).
Say 'Nem tudom, hogy hívják ezt magyarul' (I don't know what this is called in Hungarian).
Yes: 'Nem tudom, hogy...'
Verwandte Redewendungen
Fogalmam sincs
synonymI have no idea
Nem ismerem
similarI don't know (a person/place)
Nem értem
similarI don't understand
Tudom
contrastI know
Megtud
builds onTo find out
