Getting to Know Saber and Conocer
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.
| 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 where 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.
| 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?
|
The personal a must be used after conocer when talking about a person.
Fuente, https://www.spanishdict.com/guide/saber-vs-conocer