To know = Savoir ou Connaître ?

Part 1 - Savoir

Students are often put off by the verbs Savoir and Connaître since they both mean to know in

English. If this makes you feel better, we have the same problem with Parler (which is either to

speak or to talk) or Dire (which is either to say or to tell).

Use the verb Savoir to express :

1. To know that ...

If you can add that after the verb in English then it is definitively Savoir

Example : I know he doesn’t like kids = I know (that) he doesn’t like kids => je sais qu’ il n’aime pas les enfants

2. To know a fact (to have the information)

=> Est-ce que tu sais où elle est ?

Example : Do you know where she is ? (Do you have this information ?)

=> Est-ce que tu sais cuisiner ?Example : Can you cook? (Do you know how?)

3. To know how + infinitive => Can (have a skill)

Although in English, you would probably use can, bear in mind that if you mean can as

in to know how, in French you will have to use the verb Savoir