French Expression of the Day: Ni vu ni connu

Why do I need to know ni vu ni connu?

Whenever someone does something a little sneaky, this is a good expression to know. 

What does it mean?

The French expression ni vu ni connu, roughly pronounced nee voo nee koh-new (listen here) literally translates as “neither seen nor known”. It means doing something without anyone noticing, or getting away with something as if nothing had happened.

It is often used when someone does something discreetly, hoping nobody will find out. Depending on the context, it can be innocent and playful or suggest that someone is trying to hide what they have done.

The expression dates back at least to the 17th century. The word ni in French means “neither” or “nor”, vu comes from the verb voir (to see), and connu comes from connaître (to know). Together, the words reinforce the idea that something has gone unnoticed or unrecognised.

It is part of everyday language and can be used in a variety of contexts, from casual conversation to more formal writing. It also appears in literature, often to describe situations involving secrecy. 

It can be used for something as harmless as sneaking an extra biscuit or as deliberate as covering up a mistake.

The expression is invariable, meaning its wording never changes, regardless of who is doing the action or whether the subject is masculine, feminine, singular or plural. 

The expression is also currently in the spotlight with the movie Ni vue ni connue – a French comedy. The title plays on the idea of being unseen or anonymous in the film industry, and the filmmakers have tweaked the spelling of the traditional expression ni vu ni connu to reflect the film’s female characters. In reality, the expression is invariable, meaning its wording never changes, regardless of who is doing the action or whether the subject is masculine, feminine, singular or plural.

Use it like this

Il a pris un dernier morceau de gâteau, ni vu ni connu. – He took one last piece of cake without anyone noticing.

Elle a cassé le vase et a quitté la pièce, ni vu ni connu. – She broke the vase and left the room as if nothing had happened.

Je vais changer de place, ni vu ni connu. – I’ll change seats really discreetly.