# You Know Nothing Jon Snow
> You Know Nothing Jon Snow" is a 2012 *Game of Thrones* reaction-image meme from Ygritte's (Rose Leslie) repeated taunting of Jon Snow, used online to mock ignorance and naivety.
"You Know Nothing, Jon Snow" is a catchphrase from George R.R. Martin's *A Song of Ice and Fire* novels, spoken repeatedly by the Wildling character Ygritte to the Night's Watch member Jon Snow. The line first appeared in *A Storm of Swords* (2000) and broke into meme culture after Rose Leslie delivered it on HBO's *Game of Thrones* in May 2012[6]. It became one of the show's most quoted lines, spawning fan art, image macros, and a Facebook fan page, and is widely used online as a reaction to someone displaying ignorance or naivety about a topic[5].
## Origin
The quote first appeared in Chapter 15 of *A Storm of Swords*, published in 2000. In the scene, Ygritte mocks Jon after he asks why she was moved to tears by a song about "the last of the giants" when she had just been surrounded by hundreds of them[4]. Martin used the line as a recurring motif throughout the novel, with Ygritte repeating it in moments of irritation, intimacy, and argument as her relationship with Jon developed[7].
The phrase made its television debut on May 13, 2012, in the *Game of Thrones* Season 2 episode "A Man Without Honor" (Episode 7), with Rose Leslie delivering the line to Kit Harington[6]. It appeared again multiple times throughout Season 3 in 2013, closely following the novel's usage[1].
- **Platform:** George R.R. Martin's *A Storm of Swords* (source), HBO / Facebook / Tumblr (viral spread)
- **Creator:** George R.R. Martin (author), Rose Leslie (actress who popularized the delivery)
- **Date:** 2000 (novel), 2012 (meme)
## Overview
The phrase "You know nothing, Jon Snow" is Ygritte's signature line, delivered with a mix of affection, frustration, and condescension toward Jon Snow's ignorance about life beyond the Wall. In the books, Ygritte says it so often that Jon later reflects she told him "a hundred times"[7]. On screen, Rose Leslie gave the line a distinctive delivery using a Northern English accent that fans found instantly quotable[1].
As a meme, it functions as a multipurpose reaction. People drop it into conversations to mock someone who's confidently wrong, to tease a friend's lack of experience with a subject, or just to reference *Game of Thrones* in passing[13]. The format ranges from simple text posts to elaborate image macros featuring screenshots of Ygritte and Jon, fan art illustrations, and photoshopped mashups placing the quote over unrelated images[4].
## How It Spread
Online adoption of the phrase started before the TV show even aired it. A Facebook fan page titled "You Know Nothing, Jon Snow" launched on May 23, 2010, built by book readers who already loved the catchphrase[4]. But the meme didn't go wide until Leslie's on-screen delivery in 2012.
After Season 2 aired, fan art began appearing on DeviantArt and Tumblr, with artists drawing Ygritte in various styles alongside the quote[4]. Image macros popped up on Quickmeme, applying the line to situations far removed from Westeros[9]. Digital Spy reported the meme "going viral" as it spread across social media platforms during the show's run[5]. BuzzFeed capitalized on the trend with a listicle titled "26 Things Jon Snow Knows Nothing About," riffing on the meme's adaptability to virtually any topic[10]. GeekTyrant featured fan art by CGHUB artist jigokuen in April 2013, showing how the quote had penetrated the broader geek art community[11].
The meme's momentum grew with each new season. By Season 3 (2013), "You know nothing, Jon Snow" was competing directly with "Winter is Coming" as the show's most recognized line. ACMI's analysis of the show's cultural footprint argued it eventually won that competition, beating out contenders like "It is known" and "Dracarys" to become *Game of Thrones*' dominant catchphrase[3].
Rose Leslie told Entertainment Weekly that fans asked her to say the line "so often" in person, though she noted they were usually disappointed when she delivered it in her natural speaking voice rather than Ygritte's accent. "You get a furrowed brow from fans and they're like, 'That doesn't sound like Ygritte,'" she explained[1]. She recalled one memorable incident in a Northern Ireland restaurant where a waitress completed the line for her after Leslie said she didn't know what to order[1].
Kit Harington, meanwhile, told Vulture in a 2012 interview that he embraced the fan culture around the show, mentioning that the cast would debate *Game of Thrones* theories "in the bar" on set[2].
## How to Use
The meme typically works in one of three ways:
1. **Direct quote reaction:** Post the line (or a screenshot of Ygritte) in response to someone saying something uninformed or confidently wrong. Works best when the target's ignorance is obvious but harmless.
2. **Image macro format:** Take a screenshot of Ygritte from the show and add custom top/bottom text. The top text usually sets up a clueless statement or situation, and Ygritte's face plus the catchphrase serves as the punchline.
3. **Text-only deployment:** Simply type "You know nothing, [person's name]" to someone in a comment section, group chat, or reply thread. Swapping in a friend's name or a public figure's name instead of Jon Snow is common.
## Cultural Impact
The catchphrase crossed over from internet meme into mainstream pop culture at a scale few TV quotes achieve. Merchandise featuring the line appeared on t-shirts, mugs, and posters[3]. Fans tattooed the quote on their skin[3]. During press tours, interviewers regularly asked both Leslie and Harington to address the line's cultural weight[3].
Leslie's personal relationship with the catchphrase became a recurring feature of her public appearances. She described the "kerfuffle" of fans asking her to perform the line, switching from her natural voice to Ygritte's accent to satisfy them[1]. Harington acknowledged the broader fan culture in interviews, noting that the cast themselves debated the show's lore and theories after hours[2].
The phrase also generated SEO-driven content across the internet, with publications from BuzzFeed to Digital Spy building articles around its popularity[10][5]. Meme generator tools still feature the template, indicating ongoing demand for custom versions[13].
## Fun Facts
- Rose Leslie learned about fans' attachment to the line the hard way: they consistently wanted her to perform it in Ygritte's accent, not her own speaking voice, leading to what she called "a really long boring process"[1].
- Kit Harington told Vulture he uses the fan wiki WinterisComing.net when he needs to refresh his memory about the show's lore[2].
- Harington has his own theory about Jon Snow's parentage (R+L=J), which he hinted at in a 2012 interview by noting how strange it was that a man of Ned Stark's moral compass would have had an extramarital affair[2].
- The quote appears in *A Storm of Swords* on page 213 of the U.S. paperback edition[4].
- Ygritte's final "You know nothing, Jon Snow" as she dies in Jon's arms turned a comedic catchphrase into one of the show's most gut-wrenching moments[7].
## Frequently Asked Questions
### What is "You Know Nothing, Jon Snow"?
It's a catchphrase from *Game of Thrones* and the *A Song of Ice and Fire* novels, spoken by the Wildling character Ygritte to Jon Snow. Online, it's used as a reaction to mock someone's ignorance or naivety[9].
### Where did "You Know Nothing, Jon Snow" come from?
The line originated in George R.R. Martin's novel *A Storm of Swords* (2000), Chapter 15[4]. It became a meme after Rose Leslie delivered it on *Game of Thrones* Season 2, Episode 7 in May 2012[6].
### What does "You Know Nothing, Jon Snow" mean?
In context, Ygritte uses it to highlight Jon's ignorance about Wildling culture and life beyond the Wall. As a meme, it's a playful or pointed way to tell someone they lack understanding of a subject[9].
### How do you use "You Know Nothing, Jon Snow"?
Post it as a reply to someone who's confidently wrong, use a screenshot of Ygritte as an image macro with custom text, or swap "Jon Snow" for another person's name to personalize the jab[13].
### Is "You Know Nothing, Jon Snow" still popular?
The meme peaked during *Game of Thrones*' run (2012-2019) but is still widely recognized and used, particularly in contexts where someone displays obvious ignorance. Meme generator tools still feature the template[13].
### Who says "You Know Nothing, Jon Snow"?
Ygritte, a Wildling (Free Folk) character, says it to Jon Snow. On the show, she's played by Rose Leslie, who gave the line its iconic delivery using a distinctive accent[1].
### How many times does Ygritte say "You know nothing" in the books?
Jon Snow reflects in *A Dance with Dragons* that Ygritte told him "you know nothing" a hundred times during their time together[7].
### Did Rose Leslie like saying the catchphrase?
She embraced it but found fan interactions around it slightly awkward, since fans expected her Ygritte accent and were disappointed by her natural voice. She described the process as "a really long boring process" and "a kerfuffle"[1].
### What was the last time Ygritte said it?
Ygritte's final "You know nothing, Jon Snow" comes as she dies in Jon's arms after the battle at Castle Black, turning the comedic catchphrase into a tragic farewell[7].
### Did the catchphrase beat "Winter is Coming"?
ACMI's analysis argued that "You know nothing, Jon Snow" overtook "Winter is Coming" as *Game of Thrones*' dominant catchphrase over the course of the series, beating out other contenders like "Dracarys" and "It is known"[3].
### Are Kit Harington and Rose Leslie together in real life?
Yes. The actors who played Jon and Ygritte began dating during filming and later married, which kept the catchphrase alive in tabloid coverage of their relationship[3].
## References
1. [You know nothing Jon Snow | The Mary Sue]()
2. [Game of Thrones’ Kit Harington on His Jon Snow Theories, Favorite Fan Site, and Season-Two Sex]()
3. ['Game of Thrones': You know nothing about Ygritte's catchphrase in season 3]()
4. [You Know Nothing, Jon Snow - Know Your Meme]()
5. [List of Internet phenomena]()
6. [A Storm of Swords]()
7. [You Know Nothing, Jon Snow Free Meme Generator | memeOS]()
8. ['You Know Nothing Jon Snow' meme viral]()
9. [You Know Nothing Jon Snow – Meaning, Origin, Usage]()
10. ['You know nothing, Jon Snow': Why This Meme Phrase from 'Game of Thrones' Was Never Really About the Wildlings - Startefacts.com/spotlight - UK]()
11. [You Know Nothing Jon Snow - What does it mean?]()
12. [Game of Thrones – "You know nothing, Jon Snow" | ACMI: Your museum of screen culture]()
13. [Ygritte’s Unforgettable “You Know Nothing” Moments: A Deep Dive]()
14. [Ygritte - A Wiki of Ice and Fire]()
15. [A Storm of Swords-Chapter 15 - A Wiki of Ice and Fire]()
16. [26 Things Jon Snow Knows Nothing About]()
17. [GAME OF THRONES Ygritte Fan Art - "You Know Nothing, Jon Snow" — GeekTyrant]()
18. [Set Phasers to LOL - Jon Snow - sci fi fantasy - Cheezburger]()
19. [Quote by George R.R. Martin: “You know nothing, Jon Snow.”]()
20. [Beyond the Meme: Unpacking 'You Know Nothing, Jon Snow' - Oreate AI Blog]()
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