There are two verbs in Italian that correspond to the verb “to know” in English: “sapere” and “conoscere.” Knowing when to use “sapere” and when to use “conoscere” should not be difficult if you understand the subtle difference between the two concepts of “knowing.”
In short, the verb “sapere” is used to describe knowledge of facts, concepts, skills, abilities, etc. On the other hand, the verb “conoscere” is used to describe recognition or familiarity with a person, a place, or an object, including a movie, a site, a brand, etc.
When referring to a language, one could use either “sapere” or “conoscere.” The difference is that “Conosco l’italiano” indicates that you know some Italian or that you are familiar with the language, whereas “So l’italiano” or “So parlare l’italiano” indicates that you know Italian well enough to speak it.
Below is a reminder of the present tense conjugation of both verbs.
| sapere | conoscere | |
| io | so | conosco |
| tu | sai | conosci |
| lui/lei | sa | conosce |
| noi | sappiamo | conosciamo |
| voi | sapete | conoscete |
| loro | sanno | conoscono |
Examples of “Sapere” & “Conoscere” in Italian
Here are some examples that use the verbs “sapere” and “conoscere” in Italian and highlight the difference:
| “sapere” and “conoscere” Examples | Explanation |
| Sai se c’è qualcuno dentro? Do you know if there is someone inside? | When referring to a fact (whether someone is inside or not), use “sapere.” |
| Lei non sa nuotare. She doesn’t know how to swim. | When referring to a skill, use “sapere.” |
| Non so dove ci sia una scuola. I don’t know where there is a school. | When referring to a fact (whether a school exists nearby), use “sapere.” |
| Non conosco molto bene la città. I don’t know the city very well. | When referring to recognizing a place, use “conoscere.” |
| Non conoscono i miei genitori. They don’t know my parents. | When referring to recognizing a person, use “conoscere.” |
| Conosci quel film? Do you know that movie? | When referring to recognizing a movie, use “conoscere.” |
| Conosci l’inglese? (or) Sai l’inglese? Do you know English? | When referring to a language, use “conoscere” or “sapere.” |
Expressions that use “Sapere”
The verb “sapere” is used in many expressions in Italian, for example:
| lo so | I know | chissà? | who knows? |
| solo per sapere | just to know | per quanto ne so | as far as I know |
| senza saperlo | without my knowledge | cosa ne so! | how should I know?! |
To know each other using “Conoscere”
The verb “conoscere” is used to refer to the reciprocal act of knowing each other, for example:
| Ci conosciamo [1] molto bene. | We know each other very well. |
| Non si conoscono[1]. | They don’t know each other. |
Use of “Conoscere” Referring to the Past
The verb “conoscere” can also mean “to meet” when referring to the past, e.g., “Ho conosciuto mia moglie all’università” (I met my wife at university).
Next: Indefinite Adjectives & Pronouns
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