On ne sait jamais

Expression: On ne sait jamais - On sait jamais

Pronunciation: [o(n) n(eu) seh zha meh | o(n) seh zha meh]

Meaning: you never know, you never can tell

Literal translation: one never knows

Register: normal

Notes: The French expression on ne sait jamais means "you never know," where "you" refers to people in general. As in other French expressions, the indefinite subject "you" is expressed with the indefinite subject pronoun on.

Remember that in informal speech, the negative word ne is usually dropped: On sait jamais. You can hear both versions pronounced in the sound file, above.

Examples

   Amène un pull, on ne sait jamais.
   Bring a sweater, you never know.

   -Tu as acheté un billet de loterie ?
   -Oui, pourquoi pas ? On sait jamais !
   -You bought a lottery ticket?
   -Sure, why not? You never know!

Related expression: On ne sait jamais avec lui si c'est du lard ou du cochon (informal) - You never know where you are with him; literally, "One never knows with him if it's fat or pork"

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More

• On and other subject pronouns
• Jamais and other negative adverbs
• Informal negation
• Expressions with savoir
• Most common French phrases