Dictionary

you know en · INTJ

Pronunciation

• (Mid-Atlantic, US) audio
• /ju noʊ/ (General-American)
• /jɪ naː/ (Northumbria)
• /jə naː/ (Northumbria)
• /juː nəʊ/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

First attested as a filled pause in the early 18th century, as a euphemism in the mid-19th century.

Meanings

1. (informal) Expression signifying a pause or hesitation.
   • I don’t usually get nervous in games and, you know, taking free kicks and penalties but that’s the first time I’ve been that nervous in, in a game, where I have to, I’m in a situation where I’m, you know […] 2002 December 15, “Interview with David Beckham”, in Breakfast with Frost, spoken by David Beckham, via BBC:
   • Once, I remember, I was watching the twins on a trampoline, you know, and they looked so beautiful, and I was happy because they were happy, you know. 2013, Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke, Before Midnight (motion picture), spoken by Jesse (Ethan Hawke):
2. (informal) Expression used to imply meaning, rather than say it, such as when a person is embarrassed.
   • A: I can’t go to the party because... you know... B: Your mom is still mad at you, huh? A: Yeah...
3. (informal) Used as a rhetorical question to confirm agreement, knowing or understanding at the end of a statement.
   • But I guess that's life, you know?
   • "I heard Winnie the Pooh was like garlic to a vampire to the Chinese commies," he said. "Popular arts and music, poetry, dancing and singing is a threat to those in power, and I'm really trying to bring back that rock-and-roll rebellious spirit into music, you know." 2024 January 29 [2024 January 26], Tim Lee, Ray Chung, quoting Brendan Kavanagh, “London YouTuber hid in van, received death threats after piano face-off”, in Luisetta Mudie, transl., Radio Free Asia, archived from the original on 29 Jan 2024:
   • This was already a fresh departure for me. I was not used to get things that way, you know. 1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part I, page 198:
   • I just wasn't into it, you know?
4. (informal) Used to introduce information.
   • Tali: You know, there's always a few who go on their Pilgrimages and never return. I always assumed something bad happened to them, but maybe they just wanted a different life. 2008, BioWare, Mass Effect (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Engineering, SSV Normandy:
   • You know, he's actually pretty nice.
5. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see you, know.

Forms

Relateds

you know what · you know what I mean · if you know what I mean · if you know, you know · wouldn't you know it · you-know-what · what do you know · you-know-who · you know it · you never know

Synonyms

you see (confirming attention, understanding, and/or agreement) · um (generic fillers) · do you know what I'm saying (confirming attention, understanding, and/or agreement) · erm (generic fillers) · er (generic fillers) · eh (confirming attention, understanding, and/or agreement) · don't you know (confirming attention, understanding, and/or agreement) · right (generic fillers) · you know what I'm saying (confirming attention, understanding, and/or agreement) · right (confirming attention, understanding, and/or agreement) · like (generic fillers)

Translations (57)

tr yani (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · ka შენც იცი (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · fi tiedäthän (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · cy wyt ti'n gwybod (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · vi ừm (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · fr tu vois (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · es pues (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · ru ка́к его (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · pl rozumiesz (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · cy ch’mod (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · pl cóż (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · ca ja saps (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · fr tu sais (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · es sabes (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · it sai (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · ja あの (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · vi ờm (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · ru э́то (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · ka ხომ იცი, რაც (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · it cioè (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · gd fhios agaibh (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · fi näes (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · vi ờ (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · pl widzisz (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · ja 分かる (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · ko 있잖아 (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · cmn 那个 (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · es bueno (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · cy sti (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · ko 알아 (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · pl wiesz (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · pl widzi pan (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · pl rozumie pan (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · pl no (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · pl nie (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · ja その (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · cmn 那個 /那个 (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · da du ved (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · nl weet je wel (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · it capisci (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · cy t’mod (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · es entonces (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · it così (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · pl wie pan (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · ar يَعْنِي (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · gd fhios a'd (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · cy wyddost ti (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · sv du vet (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · de weißt du (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · cy ‘sti (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · pt você sabe (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · et aga näe (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · pt sabe (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · ga bhuel (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · eo nu (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · it tipo (expression signifying a pause or hesitation) · nl weet je (expression signifying a pause or hesitation)