Connaître means “to know” in the context of being familiar with people, places, or things. It is often used to express personal acquaintance or experience.
Usage
- Use connaître when you are familiar with or have met someone or when you know a place or a work of art.
- Do not use connaître for knowing facts, information, or how to do something; use savoir in those cases.
- Connaître is followed by a direct object (a person, place, or thing).
Examples
- Je connais Marie. (I know Marie.)
- Connais-tu Paris ? (Do you know Paris?)
- Nous connaissons ce restaurant. (We know this restaurant.)
- Il connaît bien l’art moderne. (He knows modern art well.)
Common Expressions
- faire connaissance (to meet/get to know someone)
- faire la connaissance de (to meet someone for the first time)
- connaître par cœur (to know by heart)
Conjugations
Here are the key conjugations of connaître across common tenses:
| Tense | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|
| Present | Je connais bien Paul. | I know Paul well. |
| Passé composé | J’ai connu Sophie hier. | I met Sophie yesterday. |
| Imparfait | Nous connaissions cette ville. | We used to know this city. |
| Futur simple | Tu connaîtras bientôt la vérité. | You will soon know the truth. |
| Conditionnel présent | Je connaîtrais plus de gens si je sortais. | I would know more people if I went out. |
| Subjonctif présent | Il faut que tu connaisses tes limites. | You must know your limits. |
Note on Passé Composé
- In the passé composé, connaître uses avoir as the auxiliary verb.
- Connu means “met” or “got to know” in the context of people or places.
Summary
- Connaître = to be familiar with / to know (people, places, things)
- Followed by a direct object (person, place, or thing)
- Use connaître for acquaintance and familiarity
- Use savoir for facts, information, or skills
Flashcards (1 of 6)
- Tense: Present
- English Example: I know Paul well.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
