How to Say I Don’t Know in Italian: Your Complete Guide
In this episode of The ItalianChat Experience, Sofia and I cover the essential survival phrases for when you’re stuck — from how to say “I don’t know” to “I don’t understand” to “can you please slow down” — and we act out a real scenario in Florence where these phrases rescue an entire conversation in real time.
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How to Say I Don’t Know in Italian: Non Lo So
Non lo so (nohn loh SOH) — three little words that mean “I don’t know.” You’ll hear Italians say this constantly, usually with a casual shrug. It’s one of the most natural, common phrases in everyday Italian.
The “lo” in the middle means “it” — so you’re literally saying “I don’t know it.” You can also drop the “lo” and just say non so — it’s shorter and works perfectly fine. Both are correct, both sound natural. Non lo so is more common in conversation; non so is quicker.
How to Say I Don’t Understand: Non Capisco
Non capisco (nohn kah-PEE-skoh) means “I don’t understand.” This is your number one survival phrase in Italy. Someone’s talking too fast, using words you don’t know, going on about something you can’t follow — just say non capisco and they’ll usually slow down or try to help.
The key difference from non lo so: “non lo so” is for when you don’t know the answer to a question. “Non capisco” is for when you can’t follow what someone is saying. Different situations, different phrases.
Can You Repeat That? Può Ripetere
Può ripetere? (pwoh ree-PEH-teh-reh) means “can you repeat that?” Use it when you almost caught what someone said but need to hear it one more time. It’s polite, it’s useful, and it buys you a second chance at understanding.
Add per favore at the end — “Può ripetere, per favore?” — and it becomes even more polite. Italians will always appreciate the effort.
Suggested Read:
More Slowly, Please: Più Lentamente
Più lentamente, per favore (pyoo lehn-tah-MEHN-teh, pair fah-VOH-reh) means “more slowly, please.” This is the phrase that can single-handedly save an entire conversation. Because the real problem isn’t usually that you don’t know Italian — it’s that Italians speak fast.
And here’s the thing: Italians are genuinely happy to slow down when they see you’re trying. They appreciate the effort. Saying più lentamente per favore tells them you’re in the conversation, you’re engaged, you just need a little help keeping up. That’s all it takes.
I Speak a Little Italian: Parlo Un Po’ di Italiano
Parlo un po’ di italiano (PAHR-loh oon poh dee ee-tah-lee-AH-noh) means “I speak a little Italian.” This might be the most powerful phrase in the entire episode — not because of what it literally says, but because of how Italians respond to it.
Italians light up when they hear this. It tells them you’re trying, you’re humble about where you are, and you’re open to communicating. They will bend over backwards to help you. A little humility goes a long way in Italy.
You can also say non parlo italiano (nohn PAHR-loh ee-tah-lee-AH-noh) — “I don’t speak Italian” — but honestly, parlo un po’ di italiano is a much better choice. It keeps the door open instead of closing it.
How It Sounds in Real Life
In the episode, Sofia and I act out a scenario in Florence. Someone starts giving rapid-fire directions in Italian:
Sofia (as a local): “Allora, devi andare dritto, poi gira a sinistra al semaforo, e dopo il ponte vedrai la piazza sulla destra…”
Max: “Scusi… non capisco. Più lentamente, per favore?”
Sofia (slowing down): “Certo! Vai dritto… poi a sinistra.”
It works. You said you didn’t understand, asked them to slow down, and now you’re getting directions you can actually follow. You don’t need to understand everything — you just need to know how to ask for help.
Quick Reference: Italian Survival Phrases
| Italian | Pronunciation | Meaning | When to Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non lo so | nohn loh SOH | I don’t know | When you don’t know the answer |
| Non so | nohn SOH | I don’t know (shorter) | Same as above, quicker version |
| Non capisco | nohn kah-PEE-skoh | I don’t understand | When you can’t follow what someone is saying |
| Può ripetere? | pwoh ree-PEH-teh-reh | Can you repeat that? | When you almost caught it but need it again |
| Più lentamente, per favore | pyoo lehn-tah-MEHN-teh | More slowly, please | When someone is speaking too fast |
| Parlo un po’ di italiano | PAHR-loh oon poh dee ee-tah-lee-AH-noh | I speak a little Italian | Setting expectations at the start of a conversation |
| Non parlo italiano | nohn PAHR-loh ee-tah-lee-AH-noh | I don’t speak Italian | When you truly need help in another language |
Practice These Phrases Out Loud
These are the phrases you want ready before you need them — because when your mind goes blank, you won’t have time to look them up. If you want guided speaking practice where someone models the Italian first, gives you feedback, and helps you respond naturally — that’s exactly what Sofia Voice Coach does inside ItalianChat.
Sofia leads the conversation so you never freeze. She speaks first, you repeat, and she keeps you moving forward.
Full Episode Transcript
[00:00:05] Max: Ciao, Italian language learners! Welcome to another exciting episode of the Italian Chat Experience. I’m Max, your host, here with our Italian voice coach, Sofia. Are you ready for some Italian today, Sofia?
[00:00:21] Sofia: Ciao, Max. Always ready for some Italian. What’s on the agenda for today’s episode?
[00:00:26] Max: Today we’re covering something that every Italian learner needs but nobody wants to admit — what to say when you’re completely stuck. Someone asks you something in Italian and your mind goes blank. It happens to everyone. So let’s learn how to say “I don’t know” in Italian — and a few other lifesavers for when you’re lost. Sofia, how do you say “I don’t know” in Italian?
[00:00:57] Sofia: It’s non lo so. Non lo so. Three little words — non, lo, so — and they mean “I don’t know.” You’ll hear Italians say this constantly, with a little shrug. Non lo so.
[00:01:09] Max: Nice and short. But I hear people sometimes just say “non so” — dropping the “lo.” Is that OK?
[00:01:18] Sofia: Yes, both are fine! Non lo so is the full version and sounds more natural in most conversations. Non so is shorter and works too. The “lo” in the middle just means “it” — so non lo so is literally “I don’t know it.” Either way, people will understand you perfectly.
[00:01:37] Max: Very nice. So non lo so is for when you don’t know the answer. But what about when someone is speaking Italian to you and you just don’t understand what they’re saying at all?
[00:01:51] Sofia: Non capisco. Non capisco. It means “I don’t understand.” This is your number one survival phrase in Italy. Someone’s talking too fast, using words you don’t know — just say non capisco and they’ll usually slow down or try to help.
[00:02:06] Max: Very helpful. And what if I kind of understand but I need them to repeat what they said?
[00:02:14] Sofia: Può ripetere? Può ripetere? It means “Can you repeat that?” Very polite, very useful. You can also add per favore at the end — “Può ripetere, per favore?” — and that makes it even more polite.
[00:02:27] Max: What about asking someone to slow down? Because that’s usually the real problem — Italians speak fast.
[00:02:35] Sofia: Più lentamente, per favore. Più lentamente, per favore. It means “More slowly, please.” Trust me, Italians are very happy to slow down when they see you’re trying. They appreciate the effort. This one phrase can save an entire conversation.
[00:02:52] Max: Let’s do a scenario. I’m in Florence, I’m lost, and someone starts giving me directions in rapid Italian. I’m totally overwhelmed. What do I do?
[00:03:04] Sofia: OK, I’ll be the local. “Allora, devi andare dritto, poi gira a sinistra al semaforo, e dopo il ponte vedrai la piazza sulla destra…”
[00:03:13] Max: Scusi… non capisco. Più lentamente, per favore?
[00:03:19] Sofia: Certo! Vai dritto… poi a sinistra. See? It works! You said you didn’t understand, asked them to slow down, and now you’re getting directions you can actually follow. That’s the power of these phrases — you don’t need to understand everything, you just need to know how to ask for help.
[00:03:36] Max: Very, very helpful. Here’s a bonus that I think is really important. What if I want to say “I don’t speak Italian” — or maybe “I speak a little Italian”? Because sometimes that’s the best way to set expectations.
[00:03:52] Sofia: Non parlo italiano — “I don’t speak Italian.” But honestly, my favorite is “parlo un po’ di italiano.” Parlo un po’ di italiano. It means “I speak a little Italian.” Italians light up when they hear this. It tells them you’re trying, and they will bend over backwards to help you.
[00:04:10] Max: Excellent. To wrap up, today we practiced non lo so for “I don’t know,” non capisco for “I don’t understand,” può ripetere for “can you repeat that,” più lentamente for “more slowly,” and parlo un po’ di italiano for “I speak a little Italian.” These are your survival phrases — memorize them and you’ll never feel completely lost in Italy. Grazie for listening! Visit LearnItalianPod.com for more resources and to explore ItalianChat, where you can practice real Italian conversations with Sofia. A presto!
[00:04:56] Sofia: A presto! Ciao a tutti!
