je ne sais quoi
Say it: zhuh nuh say KWAH /ˌʒə nə seɪ ˈkwɑː/ · noun phrase
What “je ne sais quoi” means
A special charm that's hard to explain.
More precisely: An attractive quality that is hard to describe or name.
When to use it
When praising someone's charm or a place's appeal without knowing exactly why, often with a slightly stylish tone.
Memory trick
French for I don't know what: the attractive quality you cannot quite name.
Similar words
indefinable charm, something special, allure
Where it comes from
French, 'I don't know what'.
Quick check
A performer barely moves, yet you can't stop watching and can't explain their appeal. They have…
a certain je ne sais quoi or a certain notoriety?
Show the answer
a certain je ne sais quoi
Learn 5 new words a day in Kinquire. Each with a picture, how to say it, an example and a quick check, then spaced review so you actually keep them. Free to start.
Learn “je ne sais quoi”