non sapevano

they didn't know

→ non
phrase Rare #24,044
they didn't know Imperfect tense of sapere with non; used for something they did not know or were unaware of in the past.
IT: Non sapevano dove fosse il museo.
EN: They didn't know where the museum was.

Solo che non sapevano quanto.

Only they didn’t know how much.

— L'uomo che venne dalla Terra (2007)

Loro non sapevano cosa fare per primo.

They didn't know what to do first.

Quello che non sapevano era che ora la Città di Dio aveva un padrone.

What they didn't know was that the City of God now had a master.

— City of God (2002)

Non sapevano che fosse impossibile, allora l'hanno fatto.

They didn’t know it was impossible, so they did it.

Julio e Tenoch non sapevano dove fossero o come arrivare a destinazione.

Julio and Tenoch didn't know where they were or how to get to their destination.

— Y tu mamá también - Anche tua madre (2001)

Non sapevano niente di preciso.

They didn't know anything specific.

— Senna (2010)

Hanno lasciato la casella in bianco perché non sapevano cosa rispondere alla domanda.

They left the box blank because they didn't know how to answer the question.

Loro non sapevano che fare con lui.

They didn't know what to do with him.

Non sapevano che fare con lui.

They didn’t know what to do with him.

Loro non sapevano nemmeno dove andare.

They didn't even know where to go.

Non sapevano neppure che fare.

They didn't even know what to do.