Have you ever wondered why sometimes we say sé and other times conozco? 🤔
Both mean to know, right? So why are there two verbs?
Don’t panic! 😅 Spanish is just being Spanish — a little tricky at first, but super logical once you understand it. By the end of this post, you’ll finally know when to use saber 🧠 and when to use conocer 🤝... and you’ll never mix them up again! 💪
✨ Both mean to know, but they express different kinds of knowledge:
| 💡 Verb | 🧭 Core idea | 🇬🇧 English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 🧠 Saber | Knowledge, facts, information, skills | to know, to know how to |
| 🤝 Conocer | Familiarity with people, places, things | to know, to meet (someone) |
📘 Examples:
🧠 Sé la respuesta. → I know the answer.
🤝 Conozco esa ciudad. → I’m familiar with that city / I know that city.
👉 Quick trick:
✅ If you can replace “know” with 'know how' or 'find out, use saber.
✅ If it’s about a person, place or thing, use conocer.
✵ Sé la dirección. → I know the address.
✵ ¿Sabes la fecha del examen? → Do you know the exam date?
✵ Sé nadar. → I know how to swim. 🏊♀️
✵ No sé bailar salsa. → I don’t know how to dance salsa. 💃
✵ Ayer supe la verdad. → Yesterday I found out the truth. 😲
✵ Supe que vendrías. → I found out you would come.
✵ Conozco a Ana. → I know Ana. 👩
✵ ¿Conoces al profesor de historia? → Do you know the history teacher? 📚
✵ Conozco Madrid. → I know Madrid / I’ve been there. 🌆
✵ Conozco ese libro. → I’m familiar with that book. 📖
✵ Conocí a tu hermano ayer. → I met your brother yesterday. 👋
✵ Conocí a muchos estudiantes nuevos. → I met many new students. 👨🎓👩🎓
| 🧭 Situation | ✅ Use saber | ✅ Use conocer | 💬 Example (Spanish) | 🇬🇧 Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fact / info | ✅ | ❌ |
Sé su correo electrónico. 📧 |
I know his email. |
| Skill / ability | ✅ | ❌ | Sé cocinar muy bien. 🍳 | I know how to cook. |
| Person | ❌ | ✅ (with a) | Conozco a tu primo. 👦 | I know your cousin. |
| Place / thing | ❌ | ✅ | Conozco bien París. 🗼 | I know Paris well. |
| Meeting (first time) | ❌ | ✅ | Conocí a Marta en la fiesta. 🎉 | I met Marta at the party. |
💡 TIP:
If you’re talking about data, info or skills → saber
If it’s people, places or experiences → conocer
| 👤 Subject | Saber | Conocer |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | sé | conozco |
| Tú | sabes | conoces |
| Él / Ella / Usted | sabe | conoce |
| Nosotros/as | sabemos | conocemos |
| Vosotros/as | sabéis | conocéis |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | saben | conocen |
✨ Both verbs are irregular in 'yo': 'sé' and 'conozco'.
| 👤 Subject | Saber | Conocer |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | supe | conocí |
| Tú | supiste | conociste |
| Él / Ella / Usted | supo | conoció |
| Nosotros/as | supimos | conocimos |
| Vosotros/as | supisteis | conocisteis |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | supieron | conocieron |
🧠 Supe → I found out / I learned
🤝 Conocí → I met (for the first time)
| 🚫 Wrong | ❌ Why | ✅ Correct |
|---|---|---|
| Conozco hablar español. | Conocer isn’t used with skills | Sé hablar español. 🧠 |
| Sé a tu madre. | Saber isn’t used with people | Conozco a tu madre. 👩 |
| Conozco la verdad. | It’s a fact → use saber | Sé la verdad. 📘 |
| Voy a conocer el plan. | It’s info, not a person | Voy a saber el plan. 🧾 |
💡 Mini rule to remember:
🧠 'Knowing something' → saber
🤝 'Knowing someone / place / thing' → conocer
Now it’s your turn! 🎯 Choose the correct option and see if you’ve mastered saber vs conocer:
¡Felicidades! 🥳
Now you truly know the difference between saber and conocer.
🧠 Saber → facts, information, skills
🤝 Conocer → people, places, meeting
From now on, every time you say sé or conozco, you’ll sound like a true Spanish speaker 🇪🇸
✨ Keep practising, and check out more articles on our blog to keep your Spanish growing faster than ever!