Saber vs conocer in Spanish: how to say “know”
Spanish splits English “know” into two verbs. Use saber for facts, information and learned abilities: you know what, that or how. Use conocer for familiarity with a person, place, book, song, restaurant or experience: you know someone or something because you have encountered it.
| English idea | Spanish verb | Example |
|---|---|---|
| know a fact, answer, skill | saber |
Sé la respuesta.I know the answer. |
| know / be familiar with a person or place | conocer |
Conozco a Marta.I know Marta. |
Use saber for facts and information
If you can follow “know” with a fact, an answer or a clause, choose saber.
No sé la dirección.
I don’t know the address.¿Sabes dónde está la estación?
Do you know where the station is?
Saber is also the verb for knowing how to do something. Spanish often uses it
directly with an infinitive.
Mi hijo sabe nadar.
My son knows how to swim.
Use conocer for people, places and works
Choose conocer when the idea is familiarity or personal experience.
Conozco a tu hermana.
I know your sister.No conozco este barrio.
I don’t know this neighborhood.
You can also conocer a book, film, song or restaurant when you mean you are
familiar with it.
¿Conoces esta canción?
Do you know this song?
A person usually takes conocer
When the object is a person, use conocer, not saber.
Conozco a Luis desde hace años.
I have known Luis for years.
The a before a known person is the personal a, not part of the verb. With a
fact about Luis, however, you go back to saber:
Sé que Luis vive en Valencia.
I know that Luis lives in Valencia.
Common mistakes
Using conocer for a fact
Facts and answers use saber.
Conozco la respuesta.→ Sé la respuesta.
I know the answer.
Using saber for a person
People you are familiar with use conocer.
Sé a Marta.→ Conozco a Marta.
I know Marta.
Translating “know how” word by word
Spanish does not need cómo after saber when you mean a skill.
Sé cómo nadar.→ Sé nadar.
I know how to swim.
The same “one English verb, two Spanish choices” pattern appears in pedir vs preguntar. Fluera gives you these pairs inside full mini-sentences, so you learn whether the sentence asks for a fact, a person or an action. Try that route when you practice Spanish instead of memorizing the verbs in isolation.
Practice
Saber or conocer?
Question 1 of 10
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between saber and conocer?
saber for facts, information and abilities: Sé la respuesta, Sabe nadar. Use conocer for people, places and things you are familiar with: Conozco a Marta, Conozco Madrid.Do I use saber or conocer for a person?
conocer for a person you know or have met: Conozco a tu profesor. Use saber only for a fact about that person: Sé que tu profesor vive aquí.How do I say "I know how to swim" in Spanish?
saber goes directly before the infinitive; you do not need cómo.