Saber vs. Conocer: What’s the Difference?
English uses one verb, “to know,” for everything. Spanish splits it in two. The split is simple once you ask yourself a single question: am I talking about knowing information, or about being familiar with someone or something?
Quick answer
- Saber is for information and skills: Sé la respuesta. Sé nadar. (I know the answer. I know how to swim.)
- Conocer is for familiarity: Conozco a Ana. Conozco Oaxaca. (I know Ana. I know Oaxaca.)
- Use the personal a after conocer when the object is a person: Conozco a tu hermano.
The two verbs
Both verbs are regular except in the yo form, which is irregular. Their forms are worth learning together.
| Who | saber | conocer |
|---|---|---|
| yo | sé | conozco |
| tú | sabes | conoces |
| él, ella, usted | sabe | conoce |
| nosotros | sabemos | conocemos |
| ellos, ustedes | saben | conocen |
Use saber for facts and skills
Use saber when you know a fact, a piece of information, or how to do something. After saber you often see que, si, cuándo, dónde, quién, or an infinitive for a skill.
Examples
- Sé tu número de teléfono.I know your phone number.A fact.
- No sé dónde vive Marta.I do not know where Marta lives.Saber + dónde.
- Mi abuelo sabe tocar la guitarra.My grandfather knows how to play the guitar.Saber + infinitive: a skill.
- ¿Sabes si hay clase mañana?Do you know if there is class tomorrow?Saber + si.
Use conocer for people, places, and things
Use conocer to say you are familiar with someone, somewhere, or something because you have met, visited, or experienced it. You cannot use conocer for a fact or a skill.
Examples
- Conozco a tu hermano desde la escuela.I know your brother from school.A person, with the personal a.
- Conozco muy bien la Ciudad de México.I know Mexico City very well.A place.
- ¿Conoces ese restaurante?Do you know that restaurant?A thing you may have visited.
The personal a
When the object of conocer is a person, Spanish places the word a before it. This is the personal a, and it has no English equivalent. It does not appear before places or things.
| Object | With a? | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A person | Yes | Conozco a María. |
| A pet you treat like a person | Yes | Conozco a tu perro Max. |
| A place | No | Conozco Querétaro. |
| A thing | No | Conozco esa canción. |
Same topic, different verb, different meaning
Some sentences work with both verbs, but the meaning changes. Saber is about information. Conocer is about familiarity.
| With saber | With conocer |
|---|---|
| Sé quién es Ana. I know who Ana is (I have the information). | Conozco a Ana. I know Ana (I have met her). |
| Sé dónde está Puebla. I know where Puebla is. | Conozco Puebla. I know Puebla (I have been there). |
| Sé esa canción. I know that song by heart. | Conozco esa canción. I am familiar with that song. |
In the past: met and found out
In the preterite, these verbs change meaning, because the preterite marks the moment something began. Conocí means “I met,” and supe means “I found out.” In the imperfect, they keep the idea of knowing. You will see this contrast in more detail in preterite vs. imperfect.
Examples
- Conocí a Daniel en una fiesta.I met Daniel at a party.Preterite: the first time.
- Supe la verdad ayer.I found out the truth yesterday.Preterite: the moment of learning.
- Ya sabía la respuesta.I already knew the answer.Imperfect: already knew.
- Cuando llegué a la ciudad, no conocía a nadie.When I arrived in the city, I did not know anyone.Imperfect: no familiarity yet.
Common mistakes
Incorrect: Sé a tu hermana.
Correct: Conozco a tu hermana.
For a person you are familiar with, use conocer and the personal a.
Incorrect: Conozco nadar.
Correct: Sé nadar.
A skill, or how to do something, uses saber.
Incorrect: No conozco la respuesta.
Correct: No sé la respuesta.
A fact or answer uses saber.
Incorrect: Yo sé Madrid.
Correct: Conozco Madrid.
A place you are familiar with uses conocer.
The test
- Ask: is it a fact, a piece of information, or a skill? Use saber.
- Is it a person, a place, or something you have experienced? Use conocer.
- Before a person after conocer, add the personal a.
Mini practice
5 quick questions. You get feedback right after each answer.
Frequently asked questions
Which verb do I use for languages?
Both are possible. Sé inglés says you know the language, and Hablo inglés says you speak it. Use saber if you want to say you can, and hablar for everyday talk.
How do I say ‘I do not know’?
No sé. Never No conozco on its own, unless you are talking about a person or place.
Can I use conocer with a fact?
No. A fact needs saber: Sé que vienes. (I know you are coming.)
Does saber ever mean something else?
Yes. With a it means “to taste like”: Esta sopa sabe a limón. (This soup tastes like lemon.) It is a common use you will hear in kitchens and restaurants.
Why is there an ‘a’ before a person?
Spanish marks a person as the direct object with the personal a: Conozco a Luis. It is automatic with conocer, so it becomes natural quickly.
Ready to practice your Spanish?
Choosing between two verbs gets easier with repetition. Practice with real sentences in a short, free session.
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