Signification
Stating lack of knowledge.
Contexte culturel
Dutch people value honesty. Saying 'Dat weet ik niet' is better than guessing and being wrong. Flemish speakers use the same phrase, but might sound slightly softer in tone. They might use 'Ik zou het niet weten' more often. In Surinamese Dutch, the phrase is common but might be followed by more expressive body language or 'no' (from Sranan Tongo). In Dutch tech companies, 'Dat weet ik niet' is often followed by '...maar ik zoek het uit' (but I'll find out).
Add 'eigenlijk'
Adding 'eigenlijk' (actually) makes you sound much more like a native speaker: 'Dat weet ik eigenlijk niet.'
Don't just say 'Nee'
Just saying 'Nee' can be too blunt. 'Dat weet ik niet' is much more polite.
Signification
Stating lack of knowledge.
Add 'eigenlijk'
Adding 'eigenlijk' (actually) makes you sound much more like a native speaker: 'Dat weet ik eigenlijk niet.'
Don't just say 'Nee'
Just saying 'Nee' can be too blunt. 'Dat weet ik niet' is much more polite.
The 'Dat' vs 'Het' trick
Use 'Dat' when you want to point specifically to the question asked. Use 'Het' for a more general 'I don't know'.
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing word to complete the phrase.
Hoe laat is het? Dat ____ ik niet.
The verb 'weten' is used for factual information like the time.
Which sentence is the most natural response to: 'Waar is de sleutel?'
Response options:
This follows the correct Dutch V2 word order.
Match the Dutch phrase with its English equivalent.
Phrases:
Matching the core phrase and its variations.
Complete the dialogue between two colleagues.
A: 'Weet jij wanneer de vergadering is?' B: 'Nee, ____. Vraag het aan Sarah.'
The context requires an admission of ignorance.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Ways to say 'I don't know'
Neutral
- • Dat weet ik niet
- • Ik weet het niet
Informal
- • Geen idee
- • Slaat me dood
Formal
- • Dat is mij onbekend
- • Ik ben niet op de hoogte
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesHoe laat is het? Dat ____ ik niet.
The verb 'weten' is used for factual information like the time.
Response options:
This follows the correct Dutch V2 word order.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
Matching the core phrase and its variations.
A: 'Weet jij wanneer de vergadering is?' B: 'Nee, ____. Vraag het aan Sarah.'
The context requires an admission of ignorance.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, it is neutral and honest. In Dutch culture, it's better to be direct than to lie.
Technically yes, but it sounds incomplete. Always include 'dat' or 'het'.
'Weten' is for facts/info. 'Kennen' is for people/places/familiarity.
Say 'Dat weet ik nog niet.'
Yes, but 'Geen idee' is more like 'No idea'—slightly more informal.
Because of inversion. When 'Dat' starts the sentence, the verb and subject swap places.
Yes, but 'Ik ben daar niet van op de hoogte' is more formal for business.
Say 'Dat weet ik niet zeker.'
It's an idiom meaning 'Heaven knows' or 'God knows' (nobody knows).
In speech, 'Dat weet ik niet' is very common when responding to a specific question.
Expressions liées
Geen idee
synonymNo idea
Ik weet het niet
similarI don't know it
Dat weet ik wel
contrastI DO know that
Ik zou het niet weten
specialized formI wouldn't know
