{"id":38990,"date":"2025-06-11T13:14:24","date_gmt":"2025-06-11T11:14:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ihmadrid.com\/?p=38990"},"modified":"2025-05-29T13:20:44","modified_gmt":"2025-05-29T11:20:44","slug":"https-www-ihmadrid-com-en-blog-saber-vs-conocer-in-spanish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ihmadrid.com\/en\/blog\/saber-vs-conocer-in-spanish.html","title":{"rendered":"Difference between \u201csaber\u201d and \u201cconocer\u201d in Spanish\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

If your mission is <\/span>how to learn to speak Spanish fluently<\/b><\/a>,<\/span> it\u2019s important to understand \u201csaber\u201d vs \u201cconocer\u201d and the differences between these two verbs. Both of these verbs can be translated as \u201cto know\u201d in English, but there are differences and nuances to each when it comes to the uses<\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re taking Spanish lessons, whether that\u2019s <\/span>online Spanish classes<\/b><\/a> or in-person <\/span>Spanish courses in Madrid<\/b><\/a>, you\u2019ll learn all the fine details of \u201cconocer\u201d vs \u201csaber\u201d in the classes. Here, in this blog post, we\u2019ll go over the basics so that you can begin to understand the difference between \u201csaber\u201d and \u201cconocer\u201d already.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Meaning of \u201csaber\u201d in Spanish<\/b><\/h2>\n

The meaning of \u201csaber\u201d in Spanish is \u201cto know\u201d, used when talking about facts, about information or about how to do something<\/b>. In other words, if you know something intellectually or have knowledge of a subject, then \u201csaber\u201d is the verb you would use.<\/span><\/p>\n

Meaning of \u201cconocer\u201d in Spanish<\/b><\/h2>\n

The meaning of \u201cconocer\u201d in Spanish is \u201cto know\u201d, used when you\u2019re familiar with or acquainted with a person, with a place or, on occasion, with a thing<\/b>. In other words, if you have met someone, been to a place or had a first-hand experience of a thing, then \u201cconocer\u201d is the verb you would use in this situation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When to use \u201csaber\u201d vs \u201cconocer\u201d in Spanish<\/b><\/h2>\n

Let\u2019s delve deeper into <\/span>when to use \u201csaber\u201d in Spanish and when to use \u201cconocer\u201d in Spanish<\/b>. We\u2019ll take a look at the different kinds of things you can know and which one of \u201csaber\u201d vs \u201cconocer\u201d would be used in each of these situations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When to use Saber in Spanish<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Knowing a fact or piece of information<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Knowing how to do somethingr\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Things you know (general knowledge)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    When to use Conocer in Spanish<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    • Knowing a person<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Knowing a place<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Knowing something first-hand<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      \u270d\ufe0fRemember<\/b>:\u00a0 <\/span>saber<\/b> is used when you talk about <\/span>facts, skills, or information<\/b>\u2014things you know. <\/span>Conocer<\/b> is for <\/span>people, places, or things you are familiar with<\/b>, or when you <\/span>meet<\/b> someone for the first time.<\/span><\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
      Type of knowledge \/ Situation<\/b><\/td>\nCorrect verb<\/b><\/td>\nQuick example (Spanish)<\/b><\/td>\nEnglish meaning<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Fact or piece of information<\/span><\/td>\nsaber<\/b><\/td>\nS\u00e9<\/span><\/i> la respuesta.<\/span><\/td>\nI know the answer.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      How to do something (<\/span>saber<\/span><\/i>\u202f+\u202finfinitive)<\/span><\/td>\nsaber<\/b><\/td>\n\u00bf<\/span>Sabes<\/span><\/i> conducir?<\/span><\/td>\nDo you know how to drive?<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Things you know (general knowledge)<\/span><\/td>\nsaber<\/b><\/td>\nElla <\/span>sabe<\/span><\/i> mucho de historia.<\/span><\/td>\nShe knows a lot about history.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Knowing a person (<\/span>conocer<\/span><\/i>\u202f+\u202f*\u202fa*)<\/span><\/td>\nconocer<\/b><\/td>\nConozco a<\/span><\/i> Mar\u00eda.<\/span><\/td>\nI know Mar\u00eda.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Being familiar with a place<\/span><\/td>\nconocer<\/b><\/td>\n\u00bf<\/span>Conoces<\/span><\/i> Sevilla?<\/span><\/td>\nDo you know (are you familiar with) Seville?<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      First\u2011hand experience \/ familiarity<\/span><\/td>\nconocer<\/b><\/td>\nConoce<\/span><\/i> bien el vino espa\u00f1ol.<\/span><\/td>\nHe\/She knows Spanish wine well.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

      Of these, knowing how to do something is perhaps one of the most common uses and a useful tip is that if \u201cto know\u201d is followed by another verb, such as \u201cto swim\u201d or \u201cto cook\u201d or \u201cto sing\u201d, then you\u2019ll probably be using\u201csaber\u201d in this situation. Another common rule to keep in mind is that if \u201cto know\u201d is followed by a person or a place, you\u2019ll almost always be using \u201cconocer\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      \u270d\ufe0fMini\u2011tip<\/b>: “If you can replace \u2018meet\u2019 or \u2018be familiar with,\u2019 use <\/span>conocer<\/span><\/i>; if it\u2019s about \u2018knowing a fact\/skill,\u2019 use <\/span>saber<\/span><\/i>.”<\/span><\/p>\n

      Conjugation of \u201csaber\u201d in Spanish with examples<\/b><\/h2>\n

      Now that you know when to use \u201csaber\u201d and when to use \u201cconocer\u201d in Spanish, let\u2019s start understanding exactly how to use these verbs. Of course, you\u2019ll learn the full conjugations of these verbs in your Spanish classes, but here you have<\/span> the simple present tense conjugation of \u201csaber\u201d<\/b> so that you can start using it in your conversations.<\/span><\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
      English\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nSpanish\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nSpanish pronunciation\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      I know<\/span><\/td>\ns\u00e9<\/span><\/td>\nseh<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      You know<\/span><\/td>\nsabes<\/span><\/td>\nsah-bes<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      He\/She knows<\/span><\/td>\nsabe<\/span><\/td>\nsah-beh<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      We know<\/span><\/td>\nsabemos<\/span><\/td>\nsah-beh-mohs<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      You (plural) know<\/span><\/td>\nsab\u00e9is<\/span><\/td>\nsah-bays<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      They know<\/span><\/td>\nsaben<\/span><\/td>\nsah-ben<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

      Examples of using \u201csaber\u201d in a sentence<\/b><\/h3>\n

      As for some examples of using \u201csaber\u201d in a sentence, here we have some examples for both knowing a fact and for knowing how to do something.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      Knowing a Fact:<\/b><\/p>\n