In Spanish, there are two verbs that can express the idea of knowing: saber  and conocer . It's important to know the differences between the two because they're not interchangeable. Let's learn the meaning of these two very important verbs!

 

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 know how to swim, draw, speak a language, etc.

 

Saber Present Indicative Forms

 

Here are the conjugations of saber in the present indicative.

 

Subject Present Tense Form

yo

sé

 

tú

sabes

 

él, ella, usted

sabe

 

nosotros

sabemos

 

vosotros

sabéis

 

ellos, ellas, ustedes

saben

 

Now that you know how to conjugate saber, check out these examples.

 

Sé hablar español.

I know how to speak Spanish.

 

Anita no sabe nadar.

Anita doesn’t know how to swim.

 

¿Sabes si Juanita está casada?

Do you know if Juanita is married?

 

¿Sabes dónde hay un buen café?

Do you know wher a good cafe is?

 

To express the knowledge of how to do something, use saber plus an infinitive. For example, Yo sé cocinar.  (I know how to cook.)

Conocer

 

Conocer is used to express familiarity or acquaintance (or lack thereof) with a person, place, or thing. For example you can know, or be acquainted with, a book, a movie, a country, or a certain person.

 

Conocer Present Indicative Forms

 

Here are the conjugations of conocer in the present indicative.

 

Subject Present Tense Form

yo

conozco

 

tú

conoces

 

él, ella, usted

conoce

 

nosotros

conocemos

 

vosotros

conocéis

 

ellos, ellas, ustedes

conocen

 

Now that you know how to conjugate conocer, check out these examples.

 

Conozco un buen sitio para ver la puesta del sol.

I know a good place to watch the sunset.

 

Conoce una película que tal vez te interese.

He knows a movie that may interest you.

 

No conocemos Madrid.

We are not acquainted with Madrid.

 

¿Conoces a mi amiga Melissa?

Do you know my friend Melissa?

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