✨📕 The NEWThe NEW Collegiate Dictionary, 12th Edition Over 5,000 words added — Buy Now! Collegiate DictionaryBuy Now!

not speak a word of

idiom

used to say that someone doesn't know any words in a particular language
I can't speak a word of French.
She doesn't speak a word of Hindi.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Not speak a word of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/not%20speak%20a%20word%20of. Accessed 27 Nov. 2025.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!