SABER vs CONOCER
In Spanish, SABER and CONOCER both mean
to know. However, each is used for a different
purpose:
SABER is used to indicate that you know a fact
or how to do something.
I know the answer.
Do you know his address?
We know how to ski.
CONOCER is used to indicate that you know
someone or something in the sense of being
acquainted with or being familiar with someone
or something; or with abstract facts:
They know Elena.
I know Chicago – I lived there.
I know Spanish history
[not talking about a specific fact]
Both SABER and CONOCER are irregular in
the YO form:
SABER
yo sé
nosotros sabemos
tú sabes
vosotros sabéis
él / ella / Ud sabe
ellos / Uds saben
CONOCER
yo conozco
nosotros
conocemos
tú conoces
vosotros
conocéis
él / ella / Ud
conoce ellos / Uds conocen
I know the answer
Yo sé la repuesta
Do you know his address?
¿ Sabes su dirección?
We know how to ski.
Sabemos esquiar.
They know Elena.
Ellos conocen a Elena.
I know Chicago – I lived there.
Yo conozco Chicago – Vivía allá
Ana knows Spanish history.
Ana conoce la historia española.