ما أعرف

You can use it as a standalone answer. Someone asks for the time? ما أعرف. Someone asks where the library is? ما أعرف. You can also pair it with a specific topic. Just add the thing you don't know after the phrase. It is flexible and works in almost every Arabic-speaking country.

Use it when a waiter asks for your order and you're still deciding. Use it when a stranger asks for directions in a city you're visiting. It's perfect for texting when a friend asks for a plan you haven't made yet. It is the most honest response in a classroom when the teacher calls on you.

Avoid using it repeatedly in a job interview; it might make you look unprepared. In very formal religious or academic settings, people often prefer more humble phrases. Don't use it if you actually know the answer but are just being lazy. Sometimes, saying 'I don't know' too bluntly can sound a bit dismissive. Add a 'sorry' or 'wallahi' to soften the blow.

In many Arabic cultures, admitting you don't know is better than giving wrong directions. However, there is a famous saying: 'He who says I don't know has already answered.' This means knowing your limits is a form of wisdom. In the Gulf regions, you might hear ما أدري more often. Both are perfectly fine, but ما أعرف is the standard 'textbook' version that everyone understands.

If you want to sound more local in Saudi or Dubai, try ما أدري. If you are in Egypt, you might hear مش عارف. To sound extra polite, add والله (Wallahi) at the beginning. This shows you really wish you could help but honestly can't. If you want to be very humble, you can say الله أعلم (Allah knows best).