What does 몰라 (molla) mean?
- 몰라molla
I don't know / Whatever
Casual: friends and people younger than you
몰라 (molla) means "I don't know" in casual Korean. Depending on the tone, it can also mean "Whatever" or "I don't care", or sound shy and playful.
Where it comes from
몰라 is the casual present form of 모르다, "to not know". Korean has a separate verb for not knowing, so you do not need a word for "not".
How to use 몰라
Use 몰라 with friends, siblings and younger people when you do not know something. 나도 몰라 ("I don't know either") is a very common pair.
It can easily sound dismissive, like "No idea, don't ask me". A flustered 몰라 몰라! is something people say when they are embarrassed or being teased.
With elders, avoid 몰라 and even the polite 몰라요, which can sound blunt. 잘 모르겠어요 ("I'm not sure") is the gentle, polite choice.
Examples
Tap a word to see what it means and save it to your flashcards.
A friend asks where your brother is
Being teased about a crush
Giving up on a hard problem late at night
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 몰라요 | I don't know | Polite ending, but can still sound curt. |
| 모르겠어요 | I'm not sure | Softer and more polite. |
| 나도 몰라 | I don't know either | Very common casual pair. |
| 몰라 몰라 | I don't know! (flustered) | Embarrassed or playful. |
Questions learners ask
Is molla rude?
It is casual and can sound dismissive. With anyone older, say 잘 모르겠어요 instead.
What does molla molla mean?
몰라 몰라 means "I don't know, I don't know!" People say it when flustered, embarrassed or avoiding a question.
What is the difference between molla and moreugesseoyo?
몰라 is a flat, casual "I don't know". 모르겠어요 is polite and softer, closer to "I'm not sure".