There are two verbs in Spanish that mean “to know” in English: “saber” and “conocer.” Knowing when to use “saber” and when to use “conocer” should not be difficult if you understand the subtle difference between the two concepts of “knowing.”
In short, the verb “saber” is used to describe knowledge of facts, concepts, languages, skills, abilities, etc. On the other hand, the verb “conocer” is used to describe recognition or familiarity with a person, a place, or an object, including a movie, a site, a brand, etc.
Conjugation
Below is a reminder of the present tense conjugation of both verbs.
| saber | conocer | |
| yo | sé | conozco |
| tú | sabes | conoces |
| él/ella/usted | sabe | conoce |
| nosotros/-as | sabemos | conocemos |
| vosotros/-as | sabéis | conocéis |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | saben | conocen |
Examples on Meaning Difference
Here are some examples in Spanish that use the verbs “saber” and “conocer,” “to know,” and highlight the difference:
| “saber” and “conocer” Examples | Explanation |
| ¿Sabes si hay alguien dentro? Do you know if there is someone inside? | Referring to a fact (whether someone is inside or not), use “saber.” |
| ¿Sabes inglés? Do you know English? | Referring to a language, use “saber.” |
| Ella no sabe nadar. She doesn’t know how to swim. | Referring to a skill, use “saber.” |
| No sé dónde hay una escuela. I don’t know where there is a school. | Referring to a fact (whether a school exists nearby), use “saber.” |
| No conozco la ciudad muy bien. I don’t know the city very well. | Referring to recognizing a place, use “conocer.” |
| No conocen a mis padres. They don’t know my parents. | Referring to recognizing a person, use “conocer.” |
| ¿Conoces esa película? Do you know that movie? | Referring to recognizing a movie, use “conocer.” |
To know each other using “Conocer”
The verb “conocer” is used to refer to the reciprocal act of knowing each other, for example:
| Nos conocemos [1] muy bien. | We know each other very well. |
| No se conocen [1]. | They don’t know each other. |
Expressions that use “Saber”
The verb “saber” is common in many expressions in Spanish, for example:
| lo sé | I know | que yo sepa [2] | as far as I know |
| para que lo sepas [2] | just so you know | ¡qué sé yo! | how should I know? |
| sin saberlo yo | without my knowledge | vete a saber | your guess is as good as mine |
| a saber | who knows? | de haberlo sabido [3] | if I’d only known |
Use of “Saber” and “Conocer” in the Preterite Tense
The preterite is one of the tenses used in Spanish to describe past events. We cover the preterite in more detail in Level IV, Lesson 2, and Level V, Lesson 1. For now, keep in mind that “saber” in the preterite form can also mean “to find out” in the past, while “conocer” in the preterite form can also mean “to meet” in the past, for example:
| Mi hermano supo que estaba enfermo. | My brother found out that I was sick. |
| Conocí a mi esposa en la universidad. | I met my wife at university. |
Quiz: The Verb “to Know” in Spanish
Next: Indefinite Adjectives & Pronouns
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