What exactly is that "jes nes sais quoi"?

From Dictionary.com (“je ne sais quoi”):

“an indefinable, elusive quality, especially a pleasing one.”

The phrase is French. The correct spelling is, “je ne sait quoi” and it means literally, “I don’t know what.” Figuratively, it means as @tom_g says.

Literally, the French is “I don’t know what”, and, @janbb : Sorry, but the spelling is as @tom_g said and the translation is what I said. My French has been unused for awhile, but I was fluent…

@JilltheTooth You are right, but I wasn’t correcting @tom_g‘s spelling but the OP’s. I was rushing too fast.

I don’t rush anymore. I fall on my face when I do. And, by god, I have the scars to prove it!

It was a compliment. Say, “Merci.”

¿Quién sabe?

It’s that certain something that one can’t explain or even put a finger on that makes something or someone what it is. I.e., you are special. My daughter is studying the same book. She had to write a play about a scene from the book. No. A screenplay. I think maybe they are filming it, but I haven’t heard about that yet.

You know it if you have it.

Here is a very famous song from La Belle Époque, sung by Yvette Guilbert.

Madame Arthur

It’s the story of a fairly ordinary woman who ended up with jewels, houses, money, and many lovers. Why” because of her “je ne sais quoi.”

Lyrics

First verse:

Madame Arthur est une femme
Qui fit parler, parler, parler, parler d’elle longtemps.
Sans journaux, sans rien, sans réclame
Elle eut une foule d’amants.

Chacun voulait être aimé d’elle,
Chacun la courtisait, pourquoi?
C’est que sans être vraiment belle,
Elle avait un je ne sais quoi!

Each succeeding verse gets less subtle until you discover what her “je ne sais quoi” literally is.

If you know, then you don’t.

@zensky killjoy!

Ooh! Your teacher has the hots for you :-p