Saber and Conocer: Knowledge, Skills, and Familiarity

Spanish uses saber and conocer for different kinds of “knowing.” In this lesson, you will learn the present tense and choose the verb according to whether you know information, know how to do something, or are familiar with a person or place.

Present tense of saber

Subject	Spanish	English
		I know
		you know
/ /		he / she knows; you know
/		we know
/		you all know
/ /		they / you all know

The form is irregular and carries a written accent.

Saber for information

Use saber when you know a fact or piece of information.

— I know the answer.
— I know the address.
— Do you know the time?
— We do not know the number.

Saber + infinitive for a skill

Use saber + infinitive to say that someone knows how to do something.

— I know how to cook.
— I know how to speak Spanish.
— Do you know how to swim?
— We know how to use the metro.

Do not automatically add cómo after saber in this skill pattern.

Present tense of conocer

Subject	Spanish	English
		I know / am familiar with
		you know / are familiar with
/ /		he / she knows; you know
/		we know / are familiar with
/		you all know / are familiar with
/ /		they / you all know / are familiar with

The form is irregular.

Conocer for people

Use conocer for being acquainted with a person.

— I know Ana.
— Do you know Carlos?
— We do not know the teacher.

Conocer for places

Use conocer when you are familiar with a place through experience.

— I know Madrid / I am familiar with Madrid.
— Do you know this neighborhood?
— We know a good restaurant.

Information versus familiarity

Compare:

— I know where the hotel is.
— I know / am familiar with the hotel.

The first is information. The second is familiarity with the place itself.

Skill versus person

— I know how to cook.
— I know the cook.

Short conversation

Person A: — Do you know where the station is?

Person B: — Yes, I know where it is.

Person A: — Do you know this area?

Person B: — Yes, I know it well.

For this lesson, — I know it well is a useful recognition phrase; detailed object-pronoun study comes later.

A practical choice method

Use saber for a fact or information.
Use saber + infinitive for a skill.
Use conocer for a person.
Use conocer for direct familiarity with a place.
Remember the irregular forms and .

From Knowledge to Reading Personal Emails

You can now express facts, skills, and familiarity with saber and conocer. The next lesson uses familiar language in simple personal emails and replies.