Meaning and Usage
The verb conocer means "to know" in the sense of being familiar with people, places, or things. It is used when referring to personal acquaintance or recognition rather than knowing facts or information, which uses the verb saber. For example, you conocer a person or conocer a city.
Present Tense Conjugation
Conocer is an irregular verb in the present tense, especially in the first person singular form (yo). The rest of the conjugation follows regular -er verb endings.
| Spanish Pronoun | Spanish Conjugation | English Conjugation | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | conozco | I know | Yo conozco a María. | I know María. |
| tú | conoces | you know | Tú conoces Madrid. | You know Madrid. |
| él/ella/usted | conoce | he/she/you knows | Ella conoce a mi hermano. | She knows my brother. |
| nosotros/nosotras | conocemos | we know | Nosotros conocemos ese restaurante. | We know that restaurant. |
| vosotros/vosotras | conocéis | you all know | Vosotros conocéis la ciudad. | You all know the city. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | conocen | they/you all know | Ellos conocen a los profesores. | They know the teachers. |
Past Tense (Preterite) Conjugation
In the simple past, Conocer is mostly regular but the stem remains "conoc-".
| Spanish Pronoun | Spanish Conjugation | English Conjugation | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | conocí | I met / I knew | Yo conocí a tu amigo ayer. | I met your friend yesterday. |
| tú | conociste | you met / you knew | Tú conociste la ciudad nueva. | You met the new city. |
| él/ella/usted | conoció | he/she/you met | Ella conoció a su jefe. | She met her boss. |
| nosotros/nosotras | conocimos | we met / we knew | Nosotros conocimos a los vecinos. | We met the neighbors. |
| vosotros/vosotras | conocisteis | you all met | Vosotros conocisteis el museo. | You all met the museum. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | conocieron | they/you all met | Ellos conocieron al director. | They met the director. |
Imperfect Tense Conjugation
The imperfect is used to express ongoing familiarity or habitual knowing in the past.
| Spanish Pronoun | Spanish Conjugation | English Conjugation | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | conocía | I used to know | Yo conocía a todos en el barrio. | I used to know everyone in the neighborhood. |
| tú | conocías | you used to know | Tú conocías esa playa. | You used to know that beach. |
| él/ella/usted | conocía | he/she/you used to know | Ella conocía bien el pueblo. | She used to know the town well. |
| nosotros/nosotras | conocíamos | we used to know | Nosotros conocíamos el parque. | We used to know the park. |
| vosotros/vosotras | conocíais | you all used to know | Vosotros conocíais a sus padres. | You all used to know their parents. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | conocían | they/you all used to know | Ellos conocían los monumentos. | They used to know the monuments. |
Other Uses and Notes
Conocer can also mean "to meet" for the first time in the preterite tense, highlighting the moment of becoming acquainted. It is often followed by the personal "a" when referring to people, e.g., "conocer a María."
Summary
- Use conocer for familiarity or acquaintance with people, places, or things.
- Use saber for knowledge of facts, information, or skills.
- Remember irregular yo form in present: yo conozco.
- Common in present, preterite, and imperfect tenses to express knowing or meeting.
