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By Lingobi, Published on 10/27/2025
When you start learning Spanish, one of the most confusing things is realizing that English’s simple verb “to know” splits into two in Spanish: saber and conocer. Both mean “to know,” but they’re used in very different situations. In this lesson, we’ll explore their meanings, how to conjugate them, and how to avoid common mistakes.
The main difference comes down to what kind of “knowing” you’re talking about:
Saber is used for knowing facts, information, or how to do something.
Conocer is used for knowing or being familiar with people, places, or things.
Use saber when you know a fact or when you know how to do something (skills or abilities).
Yo sé la respuesta. – I know the answer.
¿Sabes dónde está el baño? – Do you know where the bathroom is?
Sabemos hablar español. – We know how to speak Spanish.
Use conocer when referring to people, places, or things that you are familiar with or have experienced.
Conozco a María. – I know María.
¿Conoces este restaurante? – Do you know (are you familiar with) this restaurant?
Conocemos México. – We know (have been to) Mexico.
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| Verb | Meaning | Used For | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saber | To know (information, facts, how to do something) | Skills, facts, information | Sé cocinar. (I know how to cook.) |
| Conocer | To know (be familiar with people or places) | People, places, things | Conozco a Juan. (I know Juan.) |
When using conocer with people, don’t forget the personal “a” before the person’s name or noun:
Conozco a mi profesor. – I know my teacher.
¿Conoces a tus vecinos? – Do you know your neighbors?
Here are the present tense forms of both verbs:
| Pronoun | Saber | Conocer |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | sé | conozco |
| Tú | sabes | conoces |
| Él / Ella / Usted | sabe | conoce |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | sabemos | conocemos |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | saben | conocen |
English learners often confuse the two verbs. Here’s a quick guide to avoid errors:
| Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
| ¿Sabes a María? | ¿Conoces a María? |
| Conozco cómo cocinar. | Sé cocinar. |
¿________ tú tocar la guitarra? → Sabes
Yo ________ a tus padres. → conozco
No ________ la respuesta. → sé
Nosotros ________ bien Madrid. → conocemos
Mastering the difference between saber and conocer helps you sound much more natural in Spanish. Think of it like this: saber lives in your head — it’s about information. Conocer lives in your experience — it’s about familiarity.
If you want to practice both verbs in real conversations, the Lingobi app offers interactive activities and voice chat with native speakers to help you truly conocer the Spanish language — not just saber it.
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