ignorer

not know

verb ee-nyo-REH Common

Origin: From Latin ignorare (to not know), from in- + gnarus (knowing).

Also means

ignore

Usage Note

Ignorer is a false friend: its primary French meaning is 'to be unaware of / not to know' (j'ignore la réponse — 'I don't know the answer'), not 'to deliberately ignore.' The sense of intentionally snubbing someone exists but is secondary; for that nuance, faire semblant de ne pas voir is often clearer.

Examples

"Il ignore la cause du problème."

Natural Translation

He doesn't know the cause of the problem.

Literal Translation

He ignores the cause of-the problem

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