Saber vs. Conocer

To know, and to know

Saber y Conocer

Both mean “to know” in Spanish.

They are each used in distinctive ways.

Before we start let’s talk about the conjugations of each verb in the present indicative.

SABER

Means

“to know”

Is an –ER verb

Has an irregular “yo” form

Yo

sé

Nosotros sabemos

Tú

sabes

Vosotros

sabéis

Él/Ella, Ud.

sabe

Ellos/as, Uds.

saben

CONOCER

Means

“to know”

Is an –ER verb

Has an irregular “yo” form

yo

conozco

Nosotros conocemos

Tú

conoces

Vosotros

conocéis

Él/Ella, Ud.

conoce

Ellos/as, Uds.

conocen

Use of SABER - #1

SABER + infinitive= to know how to do an activity

Claudia sabe esquiar.

Claudia knows how to ski.

Juan Carlos sabe cocinar muy bien

Juan Carlos knows how to cook very well.

Use of SABER - #2

SABER + factual information= to know something (by heart) Teresa sabe el número de teléfono de

Vicente. Teresa knows Vicente´s phone number.

¿Sabes dónde está el Parque Central? Do you know where Central Park is?

¿Sabes quién es Cameron Díaz? Do you know who Cameron Díaz is?*In this case can you identify her persona, but not

necessarily that you have personally met her.

SABER & Interrogatives

SABER is used a lot with question words. ¿Sabes dónde…? Do you know where?

¿Sabes cuál…? Do you know which?

¿Sabes cuándo …? Do you know when?

¿Sabes cuánto …? Do you know how much?

¿Sabes por qué…? Do you know why?

¿Sabes qué? Do you know what?

Use of Conocer - #1

CONOCER + a + person= to know a person (personally)

Claudia conoce al tío de Teresa.

Claudia know Teresa´s uncle. (She has met

him.)

¿Conoces a Marisel?

Do you know Marisel? (Have you met her?)

Use of CONOCER - #2

CONOCER + place/thing= to be familiar with places and things

Teresa no conoce Buenos Aires.

Teresa doesn’t know Buenos Aires.

¿Conoces el libro Cien años de soledad por García Márquez?

Do you know (are you familiar with) the book One Hundred Years of Solitude, by García Márquez?

Summary

Both mean “to know”

Both have irregular “yo” forms

Only CONOCER takes the personal “a”

CONOCER is CLOSER!