Saber vs. Conocer: Know How These Spanish Verbs Differ

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Saber and conocer are very common verbs in Spanish, but they’re a challenge to master. Knowing when and how to use these “knowing” verbs can be a dilemma, but it’s an important step in learning how to speak Spanish. 

Mixing up a tricky Spanish word pair usually won’t derail your whole conversation, but getting them right can make you sound more like a native speaker. We’ll break down saber vs. conocer, so you know all their ins and outs and can be sure you’re using them correctly. Once you’ve got their differences down, practice using them in conversations with expert Spanish speakers through Rosetta Stone Tutoring sessions. 

Differences and similarities between saber vs. conocer 

Often, saber and conocer are both translated as “to know” in English, but they’re not really the same thing, and they’re not interchangeable. Both Spanish verbs refer to kinds of knowledge or familiarity. 

There’s one situation where saber and conocer sort of overlap. When you’re talking about something very abstract, like a mystery, a truth, a secret, or a reason, you could use either verb. There’s a very subtle difference in meaning, but the idea is clear no matter which verb you use.

• Quiero conocer la razón.  = I want to know the reason. (Tells you that I want a full explanation with more detail to understand the reason.)
• Quiero saber la razón. = I want to know the reason. (Tells you I want to know the reason, but details aren’t necessary.)

What does saber mean?

Saber means “to know” in an intellectual or mental way. This would include knowing facts, information, skills, or how to do something. 

Check out these example sentences using saber: 

• Sabes que no estoy en casa. = You know that I’m not at home
• Sabemos que Costa Rica está en América Central. = We know that Costa Rica is in Central America.

What does conocer mean?

Conocer means “to know” in the sense of “to be familiar with,” “to be acquainted with,” or “to have visited.” Conocer is almost always connected to people, places, or things. 

Let’s look at some examples:

• Conoces mi casa. = You know my house. (You’re familiar with it because you’ve been there before.)
• Conocemos Costa Rica. = We know Costa Rica. (We’re familiar with Costa Rica or we’ve visited Costa Rica before.)

How to use saber 

It’s worth noting that saber is an irregular Spanish verb. So, its forms don’t follow the standard conjugation patterns in all Spanish verb tenses. You’ll notice that the yo form is irregular: yo sé. But don’t worry! With a little practice, the different forms of saber (including yo sé) will be second nature.

Below is a chart that shows you the present tense forms of saber.

* In Spain, ustedes is only used in formal situations. 

Note: The feminine plural subject pronouns refer to only a group of all females or feminine nouns. The Spanish pronoun ella is only used for “she” in these cases. Similarly, nosotras is used for “we,” vosotras is used for “you,” and ellas is used for “they.”  

Using saber to relate facts

Saber is your go-to verb for things you know, have learned, or have facts about as well as things you don’t know, haven’t learned, or don’t have facts about. For example:

• Luis no sabe que Perú está en América del Sur. = Luis doesn’t know that Peru is in South America.
• Yo sé que los peruanos hablan español. = I know that Peruvians speak Spanish.
• ¿Sabes si Machu Picchu está en Perú? = Do you know if Machu Picchu is in Peru?

When saber is used to relate facts, it’s often followed by the word que (that). In English, the word “that” is often optional in our sentences, but it’s never optional in Spanish. For example:

• Yo sé que tienes un perro. = I know that you have a dog./I know you have a dog.

Using saber to share information

You’ll also use saber to share information with others.

• Sabemos que Marcos toma el autobús para ir a la escuela. = We know that Marcos takes the bus to school.
• Sabe que los estudiantes van a hacer un experimento en la clase. = He knows that the students are going to do an experiment in the class.
• La profesora sabe que los estudiantes no están preparados. = The teacher knows that the students aren’t prepared.

Using saber to communicate skills

Saber also means “to know how” to do something. Note that it’s also used in some cases where we would use “to be able” in English though we’re actually talking about knowing how to do something.

• Vosotras sabéis hablar francés. = You all can speak French.
• Nosotros sabemos montar a caballo. = We know how to ride a horse/We can ride a horse.

Saber is followed by an infinitive in this context.

• Ella sabe nadar. = She knows how to swim.
• ¿Saben ustedes tocar la guitarra? = Can you play the guitar?/Do you know how to play the guitar?

Common Spanish phrases that use saber

Practice saying these common Spanish phrases that use saber.

How to use conocer

Conocer implies a familiarity that’s the result of personal experience or long-term knowledge. It’s not about knowing a fact or a skill—it describes a sense of familiarity or personal experience.

Conocer is an irregular verb, too. You’ll notice that the yo form is irregular in the present tense: yo conozco.

Below is a chart that shows you the present tense forms of conocer.

* In Spain, ustedes is only used in formal situations.

Using conocer to discuss people

You’ll use conocer to talk about meeting or knowing people.

• Conozco a ese chico de nuestra clase de español. = I know that boy from our Spanish class.
• Su hermana me conoce. = His sister knows me.
• ¿Conoces tú a su hermana? = Do you know his sister?

Using conocer to discuss places

You’ll use conocer if you’re familiar with a place or city, whether you know it well or you visited it just once.

• Mi hermano no conoce Madrid. = My brother isn’t familiar with Madrid. (My brother has never been to Madrid.)
• Yo conozco bien la ciudad. = I know the city well.
• Mi hija y yo conocemos muchos lugares en España. = My daughter and I are familiar with many places in Spain. (We’ve been to many places.)

Using conocer to discuss things

You can also use conocer to talk about being acquainted with or having knowledge of a certain thing, such as a restaurant, a car, or the path to a destination.

• Conozco el camino a Mérida. = I know the way to Mérida.
• ¿Conoces el modelo de carro que usan los taxistas allí? = Are you familiar with the model of car that the taxi drivers use there?
• El taxista conoce bien lo que quieren los turistas. = The taxi driver is very familiar with what the tourists want.

Common Spanish phrases that use conocer 

How saber vs. conocer change meaning in the preterite

When it comes to saber vs. conocer in the preterite tense, both verbs take on new meanings. Saber means “found out,” “learned,” or “heard about” when used in the preterite.

• Yo supe del accidente por la mañana. = I heard about the accident in the morning.
• Tomás lo supo por el periódico. = Tomás found out about it in the newspaper.

Conocer changes meaning in the preterite, too. It means “met” (a person) or “first became familiar with” (a thing or place).

• Era otoño cuando conocí a Magdalena. = It was fall when I met Magdalena.
• Nos conocimos en un parque. = We met in a park.
• Fue entonces cuando ella conoció la ciudad. = It was then that she first became familiar with the city.

Key takeaways about saber vs. conocer

Don’t let tricky Spanish word pairs like saber vs. conocer keep you from achieving your language goals. 

• Saber and conocer aren’t interchangeable. 
• Saber and conocer are both irregular verbs in Spanish.
• Saber is about stating an objective fact or piece of knowledge you have.
• Conocer describes a familiarity with someone or something. 

Written by Laura Skidmore