3.6: Los verbos "saber" y "conocer"
- Page ID
- 316375
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Verbs "Saber" and "Conocer" (to Know)
In Spanish, the verb to know has two different translations: saber and conocer. These verbs are not interchangeable—each is used in specific contexts depending on what you know. To avoid confusion, it helps to shift your mindset and think about the meaning behind “to know” in each sentence. Use the guide below to determine when to use saber and when to use conocer.
|
If by "to know" you mean... |
Then in Spanish, Use... | Example | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
|
to know facts or information |
saber + que | Ella sabe que París está en Francia. | It is a known fact (a truth). |
|
to know about an event |
saber + que | Yo sé que la fiesta es a las 7 pm. | It's learned information. |
|
to know how to do something |
saber + 2nd verb in infinitive | Ella sabe tocar el piano muy bien. | It's a learned skill or ability. |
|
to know or be familiar with a person |
conocer + a | Conozco a Miguel; es mi mejor amigo. | You are familiar with this person. |
|
to meet someone for the first time |
conocer (in the past tense) + a | Conocí al gobernador ayer. | You met someone. |
|
to know a place because you visited it |
conocer | Conozco Madrid. | You have been and experienced the place. |
|
to know a work of art (music, movie, literature) |
conocer | ¿Conocen "Orgullo y Prejuico" de Jane Austen? | You have experienced it (either through reading it or film) |
In Summary
If you can say…
- "to know facts / how to..." use saber
- "to meet", "to have been to", "to be familiar with"...use conocer
Conjugation
In the present tense, both "saber" and "conocer" have an irregular conjugation in the "yo" form. The rest of the verb is conjugated as a regular verb. The irregular conjugations of these verbs and their corresponding subject pronoun are noted in blue in the chart below.
| Subject Pronoun | Saber | Conocer |
|---|---|---|
| yo | sé | conozco |
| tú | sabes | conoces |
| usted, él/ella | sabe | conoce |
| nosotros/as | sabemos | conocemos |
| vosotros/as | sabéis | conocéis |
| ustedes, ellos/ellas | saben | conocen |
Other Verbs Conjugated like "Conocer"
The following verbs are conjugated irregularly in the "yo" form like the verb "conocer". Note that their irregular conjugations are noted in blue.
| Subject Pronoun | Agradecer (to thank) | Ofrecer (to offer) | Parecer (to seem) | Conducir (to drive) | Traducir (to translate) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | agradezco | ofrezco | parezco | conduzco | traduzco |
| tú | agradeces | ofreces | pareces | conduces | traduces |
| usted, él, ella | agradece | ofrece | parece | conduce | traduce |
| nosotros, nosotras | agradecemos | ofrecemos | parecemos | conducimos | traducimos |
| vosotros, vosotras | agradecéis | ofrecéis | parecéis | conducís | traducís |
| ustedes, ellos, ellas | agradecen | ofrecen | parecen | conducen | traducen |