"Je ne sais quoi" is a French idiomatic expression used so much in English that it has made it into the leading English dictionaries. In other words, it has been assimilated into the English language.
Merriam-Webster describes je ne sais quoi as "something (such as an appealing quality) that cannot be adequately described or expressed," as in "This woman has a certain je ne sais quoi that I really like." In French, Larousse calls je ne sais quoi " a thing one wouldn't know how to define but whose existence is understood intuitively."
Je Ne Sais Quoi in French
In French, the expression je ne sais quoi literally means "I don't know what." It is often used for its literal meaning, not as an idiom. For example:
- J'ai fait la vaisselle, le ménage, le répassage, et je ne sais quoi (d'autre) encore.
- "I did the dishes, the house-cleaning, I ironed, and I don't know what else."
How the French Use It
But the French also use it as we doin English: a quality you cannot describe. We connect je ne sais quoi to the adjective describing it with de, like this:
- Cette fille a je ne sais quoi de fascinant.
- "There is something fascinating about that girl."
Note that the adjective is always masculine singular, even if the sentence refers to a girl or afeminine noun. The adjective should agree with je ne sais quoi, which is masculine, singular.
Two Spellings in French
Or we can also use it,as in English, as a noun: un je ne sais quoi or hyphenated as un je-ne-sais-quoi. Both spellings are correct. And we often use it with certain,as in English:
- Elle avait un certain je-ne-sais-quoi de spécial : l'expression de son regard peut-être.
- "She had a certain special je ne sais quoi—the expression in her eyes perhaps."
Finally, in spoken modern French, the je and the ne glide together, making the expression sound like "jeun say kwa."
A Word About Spelling
This is a common expression that is recognizable in its correct spelling ofje ne sais quoi. It is even in English-language dictionaries, so there really is no excuse for misspelling this classic phrase as "jena se qua," as some anglophones tend to do. Just look it up in the dictionary. That woman with the special something will thank you.
FAQs
If you say something has a certain je ne sais quoi, you'll sound fancy instead of inarticulate. In French, je ne sais quoi literally means "I don't know what." It's used to capture an indescribable, special distinguishing feature, or to name some unnamable quality.
Is "je ne sais quoi" good or bad? ›
French for 'I don't know what': a pleasing quality that cannot be exactly named or described: Although he's not conventionally attractive, he has a certain je ne sais quoi that makes him popular with the ladies.
What does the French phrase Je ne sais quoi translate to? ›
The French phrase je ne sais quoi literally means “I don't know what”. It's used to describe something that can't easily be described with words.
Why do French people say Quoi so much? ›
While it means 'what', quoi is also used as a filler word, which can make it confusing for French learners. When used as a filler, it is like the English 'you know' and will usually be used at the end of a sentence. It can also be used like the English 'come on'.
What is a clever remark in French? ›
noun. , plural bons mots [bon, , mohz, baw, n, , moh]. a witty remark or comment; clever saying; witticism.
Do French people really say zut alors? ›
Sacré bleu is one of several exclamatory French phrases that native speakers never use. Zut alors ! will also draw some eyerolls from native speakers, and even mon dieu ! (my god!) is more common in English headlines about France than in the mouths of the actual French.
Is it okay to say "sacre bleu"? ›
In fact, many French people would probably find it a bit outdated and silly. But that doesn't mean that French people never say it. In certain contexts, sacré bleu can be an appropriate and effective way to express surprise or shock.
Do the French actually say "comme ci, comme ça"? ›
Learn how to say so-so / meh in 🇫🇷French! We ❌don't say “comme ci comme ça” in France. Instead, we often use the informal/spoken interjection BOF.
Who says je ne sais quoi? ›
The French phrase je ne sais quoi was borrowed into English as early as the 1650s to characterize some inexpressible, indefinable, or ineffable quality, such as some element that makes an engaging work of art or charismatic person special.
What's another word for je ne sais quoi? ›
What is another word for je ne sais quoi?
| mojo | allure |
|---|
| bewitchery | mesmerism |
| likableness | engagingness |
| pleasingness | pleasantness |
| agreeableness | mysteriousness |
63 more rowsA women with je ne sais quoi does not take life too seriously. Rather, she approaches life with friskiness that delights everyone she encounters.
Why do French people say je ne sais quoi? ›
In French, the expression je ne sais quoi literally means "I don't know what." It is often used for its literal meaning, not as an idiom. For example: J'ai fait la vaisselle, le ménage, le répassage, et je ne sais quoi (d'autre) encore. "I did the dishes, the house-cleaning, I ironed, and I don't know what else."
Is je sais pas correct? ›
“Je ne sais pas” is a basic “I do not know”. “Je ne sais” is more akin to “I know not”, more literary than spoken. Correct nonetheless.
What does je ne sais pas toi mean? ›
Translation of "Je ne sais pas toi" in English. I don't know about you.
Do the French give compliments? ›
French people might not be the most generous with compliments, but they will certainly appreciate one and reward you with a big “merci”. Just make sure to use an adequate expression, and of course, choose wisely between “tu” and “vous”.
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