Most of the time, new Spanish learners have some difficulties tellingthe difference between saber and conocer in Spanish. Even thoughthese verbs are the direct translation of ‘to know’, their nuances in meaningprevent us from using them interchangeably.
So what’s the difference between ‘saber’ and ‘conocer’ in Spanish? Saberis used to express that someone has the ability or knowledge to perform anactivity. It also implies that a person has knowledge about a topic or event. Conocerexpresses that someone is familiar with a topic, person orplace.
On top of being slightly different in meaning, saber and conocer are also used with different structures. Therefore, learning the difference between these verbs will help you avoid some common Spanish mistakes. In order to help you understand these verbs better, in this article we are going to discuss when and how to use them.
| Saber – To know | Conocer – To know |
|---|---|
| – Saber implies that someone has knowledge about a certain topic or event. – It is also used to express that someone has the ability to perform an activity. – It works with interrogative words such as qué, cuál, dónde, quién, cómo, por qué, cuándo. | – Conocer expresses that you are familiar with a topic or event. – It is used to talk about the places and people you know. |
| Mara sabe mucho de historia Maria knows a lot about History Ramón sabe hablar tres idiomas | No conozco mucho de futbol I don’t know a lot about soccer Mis papás conocen a mis amigos |
What’s the difference between ‘saber’ and ‘conocer’?
Although saber and conocer are the direct translation of ‘to know’, in Spanish, we use these verbs in different contexts. Saber is used to expressing that someone has the ability and knowledge to perform an activity like speaking a language, cooking, driving a car, etc. It also expresses that someone has knowledge about a topic or event.
Mis primas saben hablar coreano My cousins know how to speak Korean
Sé que a Marco le gusta el color azul y la comida china I know that Marco likes the color blue and Chinese food
Unlike ‘saber’, conocer doesn’t express that someone has the knowledge about certain topics or events, it rather means that the person is familiar with them.
Conozco la canción, pero no me la sé de memoria I know the song, but I don’t know it by heart
Even though the English translation is the same for both saber andconocer, in Spanish the meaning of these verbs is slightly different. Inthe previous example, we would only use saber if we knew thelyrics of the song. But if you use conocer instead, you’re expressingthat you’ve heard the song before, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that youwould be able to sing it.
Just as in English you use ‘to know’ to express that you and someone else are acquaintances, but in Spanish, we use conocer. ‘Conocer’ is also used to express that you know a country or city because you visited them.
Yazmín conoce París y Alemania Yazmin knows Paris and Germany
Conozco a la hermana de Pedro, pero nunca hemos hablado I know Pedro’s sister, but we’ve never talked
If you still don’t understand the difference between saber and conocer,in the following sections we’ll talk in-depth about how and when to use eachverb.
When to Use ‘Saber’ in Spanish
As mentioned earlier, ‘saber’ is the direct translation of ‘to know’ andis used to express that someone has the ability or the knowledge about a topic,action or event. Depending on what you want to express, ‘saber’ will work withdifferent structures.
To express the ability/knowledge to do something
In Spanish, we use saber to talk about someone’s ability orknowledge to do some activities. In this context, saber can be translated as‘to be able to’ or ‘know how to’. This is the structure we use:
Saber + infinitive verb
La mamá de Juan Pablo sabe hacer pasteles Juan Pablo’s mom knows how to bake
Mis hermanos saben hablar francés My brothers can speak french
¿Sabes conducir? Do you know how to drive?
Saber can also be used in its negative form to express that someone doesn’thave the knowledge or ability to do something.
Saber (conjugated) + no + infinitive verb
No sé conducir I can’t drive
Mis hermanos no saben hablar francés My brothers can’t speak french
La mamá de Juan Pablo no sabe hacer pasteles Juan Pablo’s mom doesn’t know how to bake
To ask someone’s else about information
In Spanish, when we want to ask someone if they know (have theknowledge) about certain information, we use the verb saber. In thiscase, we need to use the following interrogative words:
| Qué | What |
| Cuál | Which |
| Cuándo | When |
| Dónde | Where |
| Cómo | How |
| Quién | Who |
| Por qué | Why |
Saber (conjugated) + interrogative word + verb (conjugated)
¿Daniel sabe por qué su hermana está enojada conmigo? Does Daniel know why his sister is mad at me?
¿Sabes dónde está la central de autobuses más cercana? Do you know where is the next bus station?
¿Ustedes saben cuándo vamos a ir a la playa? Do you guys know when are we going to go to the beach?
¿No sabes cuál es el libro favorito de tu mamá? Don’t you know which one is your mom’s favorite book?
Take Note: When using interrogative words, you need toconjugate both saber and the second verb you want to use. However, whenusing cómo, the structure needs some modifications.
Saber (conjugated) + interrogative word + infinitive verb
¿Sabes cómo llegar al centro? Do you know how to get to downtown?
Saberse: To express that someone has some knowledge about a topic orevent
This use of the verb saber is the one that causes more confusion among Spanish learners. In this situation, saber expresses that you or someone else has some knowledge about a topic or event. As a result, we need to do some minor modifications to the structure we discussed in the previous section.
Saberse (conjugated) + noun
Yo me sé todos los cumpleaños de mis amigos I know all my friends’ birthdays
Laura y Arturo se saben todas las canciones de Queen Laura and Arturo know all the songs by Queen
Mi abuela y yo nos sabemos muchas historias de terror My grandma and I know a lot of horror stories
When talking about your or someone else’s knowledge, in conversationalSpanish, we change saber to saberse. Even though the verb mayseem very different, its meaning and structure remain the same. You can alsouse this verb in its negative form:
No + Saberse (conjugated) + noun
Yo no me sé los cumpleaños de mis amigos I don’t know my friends’ birthdays
Mi abuela y yo nos sabemos muchas historias de terror My grandma and I know don’t know a lot of horror stories
As you may notice, saberse is conjugated just as saber. However,in its infinitive form, ‘saberse’ has a pronoun and, therefore, it workssimilarly to reflexive verbs. These verbs may be a little bit confusing andcomplicated to understand since their structure is new to Spanish learners.Since using these verbs is very important in Spanish, I wrote this guide toreflexive verbs. In this guide, you will find how to conjugatereflexive verbs, how to use these verbs and where to place the pronoun.
When to Use ‘Conocer’ in Spanish
As mentioned earlier, conocer is used as ‘to know’ for contexts that‘saber’ is not. On top of the nuances in meaning, saber and conocer followdifferent grammatical structures. For instance, conocer never works withanother verb. Here are some of the most common uses of this verb inSpanish.
To express that we are familiar with a topic or an event
Even though ‘conocer’ is translated as ‘to know’, this verb has some nuances in meaning. Unlike ‘saber’, conocer expresses that someone is familiar with a topic or an event. However, this doesn’t mean that you have knowledge about them. Here is an example where you can appreciate the difference in meaning:
Yo conozco a Napoleón I know Napoleon
Todos saben quién es Napoleón Bonaparte Everybody know who Napoleon is
In the first sentence, you’re expressing that you know about Napoleonbecause is a history subject that everybody studies at some point. However, inthe second example, conocer is talking about an acquaintance. This isthe structure that we use to express conscious or familiarity with a certaintopic.
Conocer (conjugated) + noun
Conozco algunas palabras coloquiales en español mexicano I know some slang words in Mexican Spanish
Mis papás conocen mi canción favorita, pero no se saben la letra My parents know my favorite song, but they don’t know the lyrics
To express that we know a place
Another common use of ‘conocer’ is to express that we are familiar with a place because at some point you visited. In this context, you can talk about a country, a city as well as establishments. Keep in mind that when talking about countries and cities, conocer could be also translated as ‘to visit’.
Conocer (conjugated) + country/ city
Mi mejor amiga conoce México y España My best friend knows Mexico and Spain
El próximo año conoceré Madrid y Berlín Next year I’ll visit Madrid and Berlin
When using ‘conocer’ to talk about the establishments you know, you’llneed to make some modifications to the previous structure.
Conocer (conjugated) + el/la/los/las + noun
Ayer conocimos la Catedral de Barcelona Yesterday we visited Barcelona’s Cathedral
Karina conoce los mejores restaurantes de Guadalajara Karina knows the best restaurants in Guadalajara
To express that we know a person
When talking about people that you know in Spanish, you need to use theverb ‘conocer’. In this case, ‘conocer’ implies that you’re familiar with thatperson or that he or she is an acquaintance of yours. Furthermore, depending onthe context, conocer may be the direct translation of ‘to meet’.
Conocer + a + person
Karla conoció a su novio en la secundaria Karla met her boyfriend in junior high
Conozco a la hermana de mi vecina y a su mamá I know my neighbor’s sister and her mom
Wrapping Up
In this article, we discussed the difference between saber and conocerand learned that even though these verbs are translated as ‘to know’, inSpanish they are not interchangeable. Learning when and how to use these verbswill help you improve your Spanish fluency and vocabulary. Just as ‘saber’ and‘conocer’, there are other Spanish verbs that are easily confused because oftheir English Translation. In this article, I talk about the differencebetween contar, decir and hablar and how to use these verbsproperly.
Here are some key points you should remember when using conocer andsaber:
Key points
- Saber implies that someone has knowledge about a certain topic or event. In informal Spanish, we use the form saberse.
- Conocer expresses that you are familiar with a topic or event.
- We use saber with interrogative words such as qué, cuál, dónde, quién, cómo, por qué, cuándo. Saber is also used to express that someone has the ability to perform an activity.
- Conocer is used to talk about the places and people you know. It never works with another verb.
Related Questions
What’s “know by heart” in Spanish? Saber de memoria is the Spanish equivalent of ‘know by heart’. In informal and conversational Spanish, we use saberse de memoria.
Mi hermana se sabe esas canciones de memoria My sister knows those songs by heart
Related Resources
‘Saber’ vs ‘Conocer’ quiz
FAQs
What is the meaning of saber and conocer? ›
Updated on April 15, 2019. The Spanish verbs saber and conocer both mean "to know" in English but they are not interchangeable. There is a cardinal rule when you're translating in any language: translate meaning, not words.
How are conocer and saber verbs different? ›1. “Saber” is used to express knowledge or ignorance of a piece of information or a certain fact about something. 2. “Conocer” is used to express acquaintance or familiarity with an object, place, or person.
How do you use saber and conocer in a sentence? ›Saber is used in the context of knowing information or ideas. e.g., “Yo sé como cocinar.” I know how to cook. Conocer is used in the context of knowing a person or a place. e.g., “¿Conoces bien la ciudad?” Do you know the city well?
What is saber used for in Spanish? ›Saber is the verb you have to use when talking about facts, information, or how to do something. Conocer, on the other hand, is the verb we use when talking about knowing people, places, or things.
Can conocer mean visit? ›You can use “conocer” to mean “visit” a place for the first time.
What does the verb conocer mean in Spanish? ›The verb conocer means “to know” or “to meet” in English.
What are the forms of conocer? ›| Personal Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | conozco |
| Tú | conoces |
| El/Ella | conoce |
| Nosotros | conocemos |
...
Conocer Conjugation: Present Tense.
| yo | conozco |
|---|---|
| tú | conoces |
| él/ella | conoce |
| ns. | conocemos |
| vs. | conocéis |
- yo. sé
- tú sabes.
- él/ella/Ud. sabe.
- nosotros. sabemos.
- vosotros. sabéis.
- ellos/ellas/Uds. saben.
1. We use conocer when we want to say we know someone or who someone is (such as our best friends). Note the personal a in the following example, which should be used when mentioning a particular person who you know.
What preposition is used with conocer? ›
Spanish verb Conocer (to know)
Do you know my cousin Gerardo? Notice how in the second example conocer needs the preposition "a" as the direct object is the speaker's cousin.
transitive verb. : to strike, cut, or kill with a saber.
What type of verb is saber? ›The verb saber is one of the two ways to say 'to know' in Spanish. It is used to express knowledge of facts, certain bits of information, or how to do something, a capability.
In which case would you use saber? ›The verb Saber is used to describe that you know or understand something, most commonly facts or learned skills.
What does conocer mean in preterite? ›Preterite: conocer = met, became acquainted with.
Do I need an A after conocer? ›Introduction to A in Spanish after Buscar/Conocer/Ver/Visitar. You have to use “a” in Spanish after certain buscar, conocer, ver, and visitar.
Is conocer familiar? ›When you want to say you are familiar or acquainted with a person. This is also true when you are talking about getting to know someone and meeting someone for the first time. Translate conocer as “to know,” “to get to know” or “to meet,” in this case: …y así es como conocí a vuestra madre.
What is the difference between por and para? ›Por is for reason, para is for purpose
Use por to talk about the reason for doing something. In this scenario, you'd translate it as “because of”.
Conocer means "to know someone" or "to be familiar with someone," "something," or "somewhere." It can only be followed by a direct object, never by an infinitive or a subordinate clause.
Is conocer a stem changer? ›Like many Spanish verbs that end with '-cer', 'conocer' is a stem-changing verb. However, these changes only happen for the first person (yo) in the present indicative and present subjunctive tenses. Below is a table with the basic conjugations of 'conocer'. Él / Ella / Ud.
How do you spell the Spanish word Conyo? ›
Coño is a common, somewhat vulgar Spanish idiom primarily used in Spain and the Spanish Caribbean. Its actual meaning differs according to use, but in Spain and several Latin American countries it is also used in its literal sense as slang for the female genitalia, the vulva. ¡Coño, coño!
Is Eres ser or estar? ›| Pronoun | ser | estar |
|---|---|---|
| (yo) | soy | estoy |
| (tú) | eres | estás |
| (él/ella/usted) | es | está |
| (nosotros/nosotras) | somos | estamos |
...
| Subject Pronouns | Conocer: Present Subjunctive |
|---|---|
| nosotros/as | conozcamos |
| vosotros/as | conozcáis |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | conozcan |
Using the chart below you can learn how to conjugate the Spanish verb saber in Imperfect tense.
What tense is Queria? ›| Subject Pronoun | Preterite Tense | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| yo | quise | I wanted/loved |
| tú | quisiste | You (informal) wanted/loved |
| él, ella, usted | quiso | He, she, you (formal) wanted/loved |
| nosotros/nosotras | quisimos | We wanted/loved |
The infinitive verbal of conocer is just “conocer”. The reason for this is that the infinitive form of a verb is its basic unconjugated form, so we can use it when conocer isn't the active verb in the sentence. Here's an example: “¿Quieres conocer a Juan?” -> “Do you want to meet Juan?”
What is saber in present tense? ›...
Mode: Indicative.
| Personal Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | sé |
| Tu | sabes |
| El/Ella | sabe |
| Nosotros | sabemos |
(Saber also has a different meaning relating to how something tastes, but the meaning referring to knowledge is the one most commonly used and is the one we'll be focusing on in this article.)
What verb tense is SEPA? ›Sepa, of course, is a present subjunctive form of saber. However, standing alone it also works as an informal way to say you don't know something.
What does the verb saber mean in English? ›transitive verb. : to strike, cut, or kill with a saber.
What are the forms of conocer? ›
| Personal Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | conozco |
| Tú | conoces |
| El/Ella | conoce |
| Nosotros | conocemos |
Preterite: saber = found out (some fact)
What is hacer in Spanish mean? ›Hacer – to do or to make – is one of the most common irregular Spanish verbs. In the simple present tense, hacer is often used just like these English verbs.
What are the 6 conjugations of saber? ›- yo. sé
- tú sabes.
- él/ella/Ud. sabe.
- nosotros. sabemos.
- vosotros. sabéis.
- ellos/ellas/Uds. saben.
The verb saber is one of the two ways to say 'to know' in Spanish. It is used to express knowledge of facts, certain bits of information, or how to do something, a capability.
In which case would you use saber? ›The verb Saber is used to describe that you know or understand something, most commonly facts or learned skills.
Is Eres ser or estar? ›| Pronoun | ser | estar |
|---|---|---|
| (yo) | soy | estoy |
| (tú) | eres | estás |
| (él/ella/usted) | es | está |
| (nosotros/nosotras) | somos | estamos |
Like many Spanish verbs that end with '-cer', 'conocer' is a stem-changing verb. However, these changes only happen for the first person (yo) in the present indicative and present subjunctive tenses. Below is a table with the basic conjugations of 'conocer'. Él / Ella / Ud.
What tense is quiero? ›Using the chart below you can learn how to conjugate the Spanish verb saber in Imperfect tense.
Does saber mean taste? ›
(Saber also has a different meaning relating to how something tastes, but the meaning referring to knowledge is the one most commonly used and is the one we'll be focusing on in this article.)
How do you use hace mucho in a sentence? ›I forgot to make the bed today – Se me ha olvidado hacer la cama hoy. It is very hot – Hace mucho calor. It is very cold – Hace mucho frio. The weather is good today – Hace buen tiempo, hoy.
Does querer mean in Spanish? ›Querer is an essential verb in Spanish to express desire. Querer can mean “to want”, but it can also mean “to love” (you may have heard that the phrase te quiero means “I love you”).
What are the 5 forms of hacer? ›- yo. hago.
- tú haces.
- él/ella/Ud. hace.
- nosotros. hacemos.
- vosotros. hacéis.
- ellos/ellas/Uds. hacen.