español · B1 · grammar · 4 minutes
Saber or conocer
Separate factual knowledge and learned skill from personal familiarity.
Understand the choice
Both verbs translate as “know,” but they organize knowledge differently. Saber holds facts, answers, and learned procedures; conocer expresses familiarity gained through contact with people, places, works, or subjects.
Core rule: Use saber for facts and knowing how to do something; conocer for familiarity with people, places, and works.
Notice it in context
Sé la respuesta, pero no conozco a la profesora.
I know the answer, but I do not know the teacher.
Use saber for facts and knowing how to do something; conocer for familiarity with people, places, and works.
¿Sabes conducir?
Do you know how to drive?
Saber + infinitive expresses learned ability.
Conocemos muy bien Lisboa.
We know Lisbon very well.
Conocer expresses familiarity with a place.
What to remember
- Sé and conozco are irregular first-person present forms.
- Conocer a a person takes the personal a; saber a can instead mean taste like.
Common trap: Do not use conocer directly before an infinitive for a learned skill. “I know how to drive” is sé conducir, not conozco conducir.