The core meaning of 'ignorer' is simply 'to not know' or 'to be unaware of' something.
ignorer em 30 segundos
- Not knowing a fact
- Unaware of information
- Lacking knowledge
§ What 'ignorer' means and how to use it
Alright, let's tackle a common French verb: ignorer. At first glance, you might think it's just like the English 'to ignore'. And while there's a connection, the primary and most frequent meaning in French is actually 'to not know'. This is a super important distinction to get right, so pay close attention!
- DEFINITION
- Ignorer (verb) primarily means 'to not know' something. It's used when you lack information or awareness about a fact, a person, or a situation.
Think of it as saying 'I am unaware of...' or 'I have no knowledge of...'. This is its most common usage in everyday French conversations. If you hear someone say "J'ignore", they're almost certainly telling you they don't know something, not that they're actively disregarding it.
J'ignore son nom. (I don't know her name.)
Nous ignorons la raison de son départ. (We don't know the reason for his departure.)
See how in both these examples, it clearly means 'to not know'? It's about a lack of information. This is where many English speakers make a mistake, assuming it means 'to ignore' in the sense of intentionally not paying attention. While ignorer *can* have that meaning, it's far less common and usually implies a deeper, more deliberate disregard, often paired with specific contexts or phrases. If you want to say 'to ignore' in the sense of simply not paying attention, you'll often use other verbs like ne pas faire attention à or faire abstraction de.
§ Common expressions with 'ignorer'
Here are some common ways you'll hear ignorer used, solidifying its primary meaning of 'not knowing':
- J'ignore si... (I don't know if...)
- Ignorer tout de/sur quelque chose (To know nothing about something)
- Ne pas ignorer que... (To be well aware that..., literally 'not to not know that...') This is a bit of a double negative, meaning you definitely know.
J'ignore s'il viendra. (I don't know if he will come.)
Elle ignore tout de cette affaire. (She knows nothing about this matter/affair.)
Je n'ignore pas que c'est difficile. (I am well aware that it's difficult.)
Understanding these common phrases will really help you use ignorer correctly and avoid confusion. Remember, context is always key, but for A2 level and general conversation, 'to not know' is your go-to meaning for ignorer.
§ The secondary meaning: 'to ignore' (deliberately)
While less common, ignorer *can* mean 'to ignore' in the English sense of deliberately paying no attention or disregarding something. However, this usage often carries a stronger connotation of contempt, disdain, or a complete lack of consideration. It's not just a casual 'ignoring' as in not hearing someone, but a more profound refusal to acknowledge.
Il l'ignore complètement. (He completely ignores her/him. - implying deliberate snubbing)
In this example, it's clear that the subject is actively and intentionally disregarding the person. This is different from simply not knowing someone's name. You'll typically find this meaning in more formal or literary contexts, or when the act of ignoring is significant and intentional.
For learners at CEFR A2, focus on the 'to not know' meaning first and foremost. You'll encounter that far more often and it will prevent misunderstandings. As you progress, you'll naturally pick up on the nuances of the 'to ignore' meaning through broader reading and listening. But for now, nail down 'to not know'!
Nível de dificuldade
short and common verb
short and common verb
short and common verb
short and common verb
O que aprender depois
Pré-requisitos
Aprenda a seguir
Avançado
Exemplos por nível
J'ignore son nom, je ne l'ai jamais rencontré.
I don't know his name, I've never met him.
Here 'ignorer' means 'to not know' a fact or piece of information.
Elle ignore les avertissements et continue de fumer.
She ignores the warnings and keeps smoking.
In this context, 'ignorer' means 'to disregard' or 'to pay no attention to'.
Il m'a ignoré toute la soirée, c'était frustrant.
He ignored me all evening, it was frustrating.
When referring to people, 'ignorer' means 'to ignore' someone deliberately.
Nous ignorons encore les conséquences de cette décision.
We still don't know the consequences of this decision.
Again, 'ignorer' is used in the sense of 'to not know' a future outcome.
Ne passez pas votre temps à ignorer les problèmes, affrontez-les.
Don't spend your time ignoring problems, face them.
This emphasizes 'ignoring' in the sense of avoiding or neglecting issues.
La plupart des gens ignorent comment fonctionne leur téléphone.
Most people don't know how their phone works.
Used to describe a lack of knowledge about a process or mechanism.
Le gouvernement a ignoré les demandes des citoyens.
The government ignored the citizens' demands.
Similar to 'disregard', indicating a conscious choice not to respond or act upon requests.
J'ignorais que tu parlais si bien l'espagnol !
I didn't know you spoke Spanish so well!
In the passé composé, 'ignorer' often means 'to be unaware' of something previously.
J'ignorais totalement l'ampleur du problème jusqu'à ce qu'il soit trop tard.
I was completely unaware of the scale of the problem until it was too late.
Here, 'ignorer' means to be unaware or not know about something important.
Elle a ignoré mes avertissements et a continué son chemin.
She disregarded my warnings and continued on her way.
In this context, 'ignorer' means to disregard or pay no attention to.
Ne passez pas votre temps à ignorer les signaux d'alerte.
Don't spend your time overlooking the warning signs.
Here, 'ignorer' implies actively overlooking or not paying attention to something.
Les habitants ignorent souvent les règles de stationnement dans ce quartier.
The residents often flout the parking rules in this neighborhood.
This usage of 'ignorer' means to not respect or deliberately disobey rules.
Il est impossible d'ignorer la beauté de ce paysage.
It's impossible to overlook the beauty of this landscape.
Here, 'ignorer' means to not be able to miss or fail to notice.
Pour l'instant, nous ignorons les raisons de son départ soudain.
For now, we don't know the reasons for his sudden departure.
This is a direct use of the primary meaning: to not know.
Le gouvernement a choisi d'ignorer les appels à la réforme.
The government chose to ignore the calls for reform.
Similar to 'disregard', indicating a deliberate act of not paying attention.
J'ignorais qu'il était capable d'une telle perfidie.
I didn't know he was capable of such treachery.
Another direct use of 'ignorer' meaning to not know or be unaware of a fact.
Frequentemente confundido com
Similar to 'ignorer' (to not know), but 'ignorer' can imply a more complete lack of knowledge or awareness.
Means 'to disregard' or 'to ignore' (deliberately), which is the common misinterpretation of 'ignorer'.
Another way to say 'to not pay attention to' or 'to ignore' (deliberately).
Fácil de confundir
Many English speakers assume 'ignorer' means 'to ignore' (as in, to deliberately disregard). However, its primary meaning in French is 'to not know'.
In French, 'ignorer' means 'to not know' something. To 'ignore' someone or something (deliberately disregard) in French, you would typically use verbs like 'ne pas faire attention à', 'faire fi de', or 'volontairement ne pas tenir compte de'.
J'ignore son nom. (I don't know his name.)
Sounds like 'actually', but it means 'currently' or 'at present'.
'Actuellement' refers to the present time. For 'actually' (in reality), use 'en fait' or 'effectivement'.
Il travaille actuellement. (He is currently working.)
Often confused with 'to bless' due to similar sound.
'Blesser' means 'to wound' or 'to injure'. For 'to bless', use 'bénir'.
Il s'est blessé au genou. (He injured his knee.)
Sounds like 'to demand', but often means 'to ask'.
While 'demander' can mean 'to demand' in some contexts, its most common usage is 'to ask'. For a strong 'demand', you might use 'exiger'.
Je lui ai demandé l'heure. (I asked him for the time.)
Sounds like 'library', but it means 'bookstore'.
'Librairie' is where you buy books. For 'library' (where you borrow books), use 'bibliothèque'.
Je vais à la librairie. (I'm going to the bookstore.)
Teste-se 18 perguntas
Je ___ son nom. (I don't know his name.)
Here, 'ignore' means 'to not know'. 'Sais' and 'connais' mean 'to know' in different contexts, and 'oublie' means 'to forget'.
Elle ___ la réponse. (She doesn't know the answer.)
In this context, 'ignore' is used to express not knowing information. 'Connaît' and 'sait' mean 'to know', and 'cherche' means 'to look for'.
Nous ___ où il est. (We don't know where he is.)
'Ignorons' is the correct form of 'ignorer' for 'nous' when meaning 'to not know'.
Vous ___ cette information. (You don't know this information.)
'Ignorez' is the correct conjugation of 'ignorer' for 'vous' to indicate lack of knowledge.
Ils ___ les détails. (They don't know the details.)
'Ignorent' is the third-person plural form of 'ignorer', meaning 'they don't know'.
Je ne veux pas ___ ce problème. (I don't want to ignore this problem.)
After 'ne veux pas' (don't want to), we use the infinitive form of the verb. Here, 'ignorer' means to 'ignore' or 'not know' intentionally.
You are at a café in Paris and you want to ask for the menu. How would you say 'I don't know' in a polite way if someone asks you something you don't know?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Pardon, je ne sais pas.
Imagine you are talking about a friend who doesn't know how to swim. How would you start a simple sentence to say 'My friend doesn't know how to swim.'?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Mon ami ne sait pas nager.
You are learning French and someone asks you a question in French that you don't understand. How would you politely say 'I don't understand'?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Pardon, je ne comprends pas.
What does Marc not know?
Read this passage:
Pierre parle français. Il aime lire des livres. Son ami, Marc, ne parle pas français. Marc ne connaît pas les mots français. Il ne sait pas la signification de 'bonjour'.
What does Marc not know?
The passage states 'Il ne sait pas la signification de 'bonjour'', meaning he does not know the meaning of 'bonjour'.
The passage states 'Il ne sait pas la signification de 'bonjour'', meaning he does not know the meaning of 'bonjour'.
What does Marie not know?
Read this passage:
Marie est une étudiante. Elle étudie le français. Son professeur pose une question: 'Comment dit-on 'cat' en français?' Marie ne sait pas la réponse.
What does Marie not know?
The passage says 'Marie ne sait pas la réponse' (Marie doesn't know the answer) to the question 'How do you say 'cat' in French?'.
The passage says 'Marie ne sait pas la réponse' (Marie doesn't know the answer) to the question 'How do you say 'cat' in French?'.
What does the dog not know?
Read this passage:
J'ai un petit chien. Il est très mignon. Il ne connaît pas son nom. Quand j'appelle 'Rex', il ne vient pas. C'est amusant!
What does the dog not know?
The passage states 'Il ne connaît pas son nom' (He doesn't know his name).
The passage states 'Il ne connaît pas son nom' (He doesn't know his name).
Imagine you're having a conversation with a friend about a recent event. You realize there's a key piece of information you don't know. Write a short paragraph (3-4 sentences) expressing your lack of knowledge using 'ignorer' correctly in at least two different forms (e.g., present tense, past tense, infinitive).
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
J'ignorais totalement que Marie avait déménagé la semaine dernière. C'est une information importante que j'ai complètement ignorée. Je me demande pourquoi personne ne m'en a parlé avant. Maintenant, je dois la contacter pour avoir plus de détails.
You are writing a formal email to a colleague about a project. There's a technical detail that you are genuinely unaware of. Write two sentences politely stating this lack of knowledge, using 'ignorer' in a formal context.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Je dois avouer que j'ignore certains détails techniques concernant l'implémentation de cette fonctionnalité. Pourriez-vous, s'il vous plaît, m'éclairer sur ce point afin que je puisse avancer efficacement ?
Describe a situation where someone 'disregarded' advice or warnings, leading to a negative outcome. Use 'ignorer' in this sense, along with appropriate vocabulary to explain the consequence. Write 3-4 sentences.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Mon collègue a malheureusement ignoré tous les avertissements concernant la date limite du projet. Il pensait pouvoir le terminer à la dernière minute, mais il a finalement raté l'échéance. Les conséquences ont été fâcheuses pour toute l'équipe, et il regrette amèrement d'avoir ignoré ces conseils.
Quelle est la principale critique de l'auteur concernant les analystes économiques ?
Read this passage:
Dans un article récent sur l'économie mondiale, l'auteur a souligné que de nombreux analystes continuent d'ignorer les signaux faibles qui pourraient indiquer un ralentissement imminent. Cette tendance à ne pas prêter attention aux indicateurs moins évidents risque de mener à des prévisions erronées et à une mauvaise préparation face aux défis futurs.
Quelle est la principale critique de l'auteur concernant les analystes économiques ?
Le passage indique que les analystes 'continuent d'ignorer les signaux faibles', ce qui correspond à ne pas tenir compte des indicateurs subtils.
Le passage indique que les analystes 'continuent d'ignorer les signaux faibles', ce qui correspond à ne pas tenir compte des indicateurs subtils.
Qu'est-ce que le directeur a choisi d'ignorer ?
Read this passage:
Le nouveau directeur, réputé pour son approche audacieuse, a délibérément ignoré les conventions établies au sein de l'entreprise. Cette stratégie, bien que risquée, visait à introduire une culture de l'innovation et à rompre avec les habitudes qui, selon lui, bridaient la créativité. Les premiers résultats sont mitigés, mais une évolution est indéniable.
Qu'est-ce que le directeur a choisi d'ignorer ?
Le texte dit 'il a délibérément ignoré les conventions établies au sein de l'entreprise'.
Le texte dit 'il a délibérément ignoré les conventions établies au sein de l'entreprise'.
Quelle était la conséquence principale du fait que les responsables aient 'ignoré les alertes internes'?
Read this passage:
Lors d'une enquête approfondie sur un scandale financier, il est apparu que plusieurs responsables avaient délibérément ignoré les alertes internes, choisissant de ne pas examiner les transactions suspectes. Cette négligence, ou plutôt ce choix délibéré d'ignorance, a permis aux malversations de perdurer pendant des mois, causant d'énormes pertes à l'entreprise.
Quelle était la conséquence principale du fait que les responsables aient 'ignoré les alertes internes'?
Le texte explique que 'cette négligence, ou plutôt ce choix délibéré d'ignorance, a permis aux malversations de perdurer pendant des mois'.
Le texte explique que 'cette négligence, ou plutôt ce choix délibéré d'ignorance, a permis aux malversations de perdurer pendant des mois'.
/ 18 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
The core meaning of 'ignorer' is simply 'to not know' or 'to be unaware of' something.
- Not knowing a fact
- Unaware of information
- Lacking knowledge
Exemplo
In context, `ignorer` expresses: to not know.
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