If you’re learning Spanish, you’ve likely come across the verbs “saber” and “conocer.” While both verbs can be translated as “to know” in English, they are used in different contexts and convey distinct meanings in Spanish. Understanding the difference between them is essential to effectively communicate in Spanish.
Saber
- “Saber” is used to talk about facts or learned skills. You can use it to talk about information you’ve memorized or to say you are able to swim, draw, speak a language, etc.
- It is also used when we have news or knowledge of something.
- In situations when we want to express to be certain or convinced of a future fact.
- Related to food saber s used to express having a certain taste.
Here are the present indicative and subjunctive forms of “saber”:
| Subject | PRESENT INDICATIVE | PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | sé | sepa |
| Tú | sabes | sepas |
| Él/Ella/Usted | sabe | sepa |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | sabemos | sepamos |
| Vosotros/Vosotras | sabéis | sepáis |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | saben | sepan |
Here are some examples of “saber” in use:
- “Él sabe tocar la guitarra” (He knows how to play the guitar)
- “Yo sé hablar español” (I know how to speak Spanish)
- “Tú sabes la respuesta” (You know the answer)
- “Nosotros sabemos la verdad” (We know the truth)
- “Ellos saben el camino” (They know the way)
- “No sé de Ana desde hace tiempo.” (I haven’t heard from Ana for a long time.)
- “Esta sopa sabe a ajo.” (This soup tastes like garlic.)
Usage of Saber
When it comes to using the verb “saber” in Spanish, it is important to understand that it is typically used to talk about facts or learned skills. This can include knowledge of specific information, such as dates, names, or places, as well as a general understanding of a particular topic or subject.
One key thing to keep in mind is that “saber” is often used to describe an ability or know-how, rather than just knowledge of facts. For example, if you know how to speak Spanish, you would use “saber” to describe this ability. Similarly, if you know how to play the guitar, you would also use “saber” to describe this skill.
It is also worth noting that “saber” can be used reflexively with the addition of the pronoun “se” to indicate knowledge of oneself or one’s own abilities. For example, “sé nadar” would mean “I know how to swim,” while “sé maquillarme” would mean “I know how to put on make up myself.”
When it comes to using “saber” in Spanish, it is important to pay attention to the context in which it is being used. While it can be used in a variety of situations, it is generally best suited for situations where you are talking about knowledge of specific facts or learned skills.
Expressions with “saber”
| Spanish | English |
| no saber dónde meterse Example: Cuando preguntó por la carpeta, no sabía dónde meterme. | It is used to emphasise someone’s fear or embarrassment in a given situation. |
| no sé cuántos Example: El actor no sé cuántos ganó los premios. | Instead of the name of a person or thing when it is not known or it is not interesting to specify it. |
| no sé qué Example: Ella tiene un no sé qué que la hace muy agradable. | Something that cannot be explained. |
| que sepamos, que se sepa, que yo sepa, etc. Example: Carlos no ha venido, que yo sepa. | To mitigate an assertion. |
| qué sé yo Example: ¿Que dónde está mi hermano? ¡Y qué sé yo! | To express emphatically that the speaker is disengaging from an issue. |
| sabérselas todas Example: A esta no hay quien la engañe; se las sabe todas. | Have the ability to perform successfully in all circumstances. |
Conocer
“Conocer” refers to knowing people or places. It can also be used to express familiarity with a subject or concept. Here are the present indicative and subjunctive forms of “conocer”:
| Subject | PRESENT INDICATIVE | PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | conozco | conozca |
| Tú | conoces | conoce |
| Él/Ella/Usted | conoce | conozca |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | conocemos | conozcamos |
| Vosotros/Vosotras | conocéis | conozcáis |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | conocen | conozcan |
Here are some examples of “conocer” in use:
- “Yo conozco a Juan” (I know Juan)
- “Tú conoces la ciudad” (You know the city)
- “Él conoce bien la historia” (He knows the history well)
- “Nosotros conocemos a la profesora” (We know the teacher)
- “Ellos conocen el restaurante” (They know the restaurant)
“Saber” is used to talk about facts or learned skills, while “conocer” refers to knowing people or places. Understanding when to use each one can make a big difference in your communication skills when speaking with native Spanish speakers.
Usage of Conocer
When it comes to the usage of “conocer,” it is important to understand that it is primarily used to talk about familiarity with people, places, or things. It is often used when you are talking about meeting someone or visiting a place for the first time. Here are some examples:
- “Yo conozco a Maria” (I know Maria)
- “Ella conoce Nueva York” (She knows New York)
- “Nosotros conocemos el restaurante nuevo” (We know the new restaurant)
As you can see, “conocer” is used to express familiarity with people, places, or things. It is often used in the context of meeting someone for the first time or visiting a new place.
It is also important to note that “conocer” is often used with the preposition “a” when talking about people. For example, “Yo conozco a Maria” (I know Maria).
In contrast to “saber,” which is used to talk about facts or learned skills, “conocer” is used to talk about familiarity and personal experience.
Conjugation of Saber and Conocer
To properly use the Spanish verbs “saber” and “conocer,” you must know their conjugations. In this section, we will go over the present indicative and preterite conjugations of both verbs.
Saber Conjugation
| Person | Preterite | Pret. Perfect | Future |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | supe | he sabido | sabré |
| Tú | supiste | has sabido | sabrás |
| Él/Ella/Usted | supo | ha sabido | sabrá |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | supimos | hemos sabido | sabremos |
| Vosotros/Vosotras | supisteis | habéis sabido | sabréis |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | supieron | han sabido | sabrán |
Conocer Conjugation
| Person | Preterite | Pret. Perfect | Future |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | conocí | he conocido | conoceré |
| Tú | conociste | has conocido | conocerás |
| Él/Ella/Usted | conoció | ha conocido | conocerá |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | conocimos | hemos conocido | conoceremos |
| Vosotros/Vosotras | conocisteis | habéis conocido | conoceréis |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | conocieron | han conocido | conocerán |
Situational Differences Between Saber and Conocer
When it comes to choosing between “saber” and “conocer” in Spanish, it’s important to understand the situational differences between the two verbs. While both verbs translate to “to know” in English, they are used differently in Spanish and have specific contexts in which they are appropriate.
Saber
“Saber” is used to talk about facts or learned skills. It is used when you know something to be true or when you have knowledge of a particular subject. Some examples of situations where “saber” would be appropriate include:
- Knowing a fact, such as “I know that the capital of Spain is Madrid.”
- Knowing how to do something, such as “I know how to play the guitar.”
- Knowing a language, such as “I know how to speak Spanish.”
Conocer
“Conocer” is used to talk about familiarity with people, places, or things. It is used when you are acquainted with or have experience with a particular person, place, or thing. Some examples of situations where “conocer” would be appropriate include:
- Knowing a person, such as “I know Maria.”
- Knowing a place, such as “I know New York City.”
- Knowing a thing, such as “I know how to use a computer.”
It’s important to note that “conocer” is also used to talk about meeting someone or going to a place for the first time. For example, “I met Maria yesterday” or “I went to New York City last year.”
Choosing Between Saber and Conocer
When deciding between “saber” and “conocer,” it’s important to consider the context of the situation. Ask yourself whether you are talking about a fact or skill (in which case “saber” would be appropriate) or whether you are talking about familiarity with a person, place, or thing (in which case “conocer” would be appropriate).
Here are some additional tips to help you choose between “saber” and “conocer”:
- Use “saber” when talking about knowledge or information.
- Use “conocer” when talking about familiarity or experience.
- Use “conocer” when talking about meeting someone or going to a place for the first time.
- Remember that “saber” is followed by an infinitive verb, while “conocer” is followed by a direct object.
By understanding the situational differences between “saber” and “conocer,” you can use these verbs correctly and effectively communicate in Spanish.
Practice and Application
Now that you understand the differences between “saber” and “conocer,” it’s time to practice and apply your knowledge. Here are some examples to help you get started.
Talking about People
When talking about people, use “conocer” to refer to knowing someone personally, and “saber” to refer to knowing information about them.
- ¿Conoces a María? (Do you know María?)
- Sé que María es una buena amiga. (I know that María is a good friend.)
Abilities
When talking about abilities, use “saber” to refer to skills or knowledge, and “conocer” to refer to familiarity with a place or activity.
- Sé tocar la guitarra. (I know how to play the guitar.)
- Conozco bien la ciudad de Madrid. (I am familiar with the city of Madrid.)
Discover
When talking about discovering something new, use “conocer” to refer to discovering a place or person, and “saber” to refer to discovering information or a fact.
- Ayer conocí a una persona muy interesante. (Yesterday I met a very interesting person.)
- Supe la verdad sobre el accidente hoy. (I found out the truth about the accident today.)
Interrogative Pronoun
When using an interrogative pronoun, use “conocer” to ask about familiarity with a person or place, and “saber” to ask about knowledge or information.
- ¿Conoces a alguien que hable francés? (Do you know anyone who speaks French?)
- ¿Sabes qué hora es? (Do you know what time it is?)
Reciprocal Sentences
When using reciprocal sentences, use “conocer” to refer to getting to know someone, and “saber” to refer to exchanging information or knowledge.
- Nos conocimos en la universidad. (We met each other in college.)
- Los dos sabemos mucho sobre historia. (We both know a lot about history.)
Preposition A
When using the preposition “a,” use “conocer” to refer to meeting or becoming familiar with a person, and “saber” to refer to knowing a fact or information about a person.
- Conocí a mi mejor amigo en la escuela. (I met my best friend at school.)
- Sé que mi hermano es muy inteligente. (I know that my brother is very intelligent.)
By practicing with these examples, you’ll be able to master the differences between “saber” and “conocer” in no time. Keep practicing and applying your knowledge to become a pro at using these two important verbs in Spanish!
