Conocer is a fundamental Spanish verb used to express familiarity or acquaintance with people, places, or things. Unlike saber, which is used for knowing facts or information, conocer emphasizes personal experience or recognition. This verb is essential for anyone looking to describe relationships, experiences, or introductions in Spanish.
- Use conocer for knowing or being acquainted with people, places, or things.
- Not used for facts or information (that’s saber).
- Highlights familiarity, personal experience, or recognition.
Use *conocer* for knowing (being acquainted with) people, places, or things—not for facts or skills.
*conocer* expresses familiarity or acquaintance.
Meaning and Usage
Conocer means "to know" in the sense of being familiar with or acquainted with someone or something. It is used for:
- Meeting or knowing people (personas)
- Being familiar with places (lugares)
- Knowing or being familiar with things or concepts (cosas, ideas)
It is not used for knowing facts, information, or how to do something—use saber for that.
- Conocer = to meet, to be acquainted with, to know (people/places/things in a personal way).
- Used for: people, places, things you are familiar with.
- Not used for knowledge of facts or skills.
*conocer* is for knowing/meeting people or being familiar with places/things.
No, *conocer* is not used for facts—use *saber*.
Conjugation: Present Indicative
| Subject | Conocer | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | conozco | I know/meet |
| Tú | conoces | You know/meet |
| Él/Ella/Ud. | conoce | He/She/You know/meet |
| Nosotros/as | conocemos | We know/meet |
| Vosotros/as | conocéis | You all know/meet |
| Ellos/as/Uds. | conocen | They know/meet |
Example:
- Yo conozco a María. (I know María.)
- ¿Conoces Madrid? (Do you know Madrid?)
The *yo* form is *conozco*.
The correct form is 'Conocen.'
Example Sentences
Conocer in action:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Yo conozco a tu hermano. | I know your brother. |
| Ella conoce París. | She knows (is familiar with) Paris. |
| ¿Conocen ustedes este restaurante? | Do you all know this restaurant? |
| Nosotros conocemos bien esa película. | We know that movie well. |
(Not for facts or info):
- ❌ Conozco la respuesta. (Use sé la respuesta.)
- ❌ ¿Conoces cómo nadar? (Use sabes nadar.)
Correct: 'Conozco a tu amigo.', 'Conocemos la ciudad.'
Yes, you can use *conocer* for being familiar with a city.
Forms in Other Tenses
- Preterite: conocí, conociste, conoció, conocimos, conocisteis, conocieron
(Use when you "met" someone for the first time.)
- Imperative: conoce (tú), conozca (Ud.), conozcan (Uds.)
- Subjunctive (Present): conozca, conozcas, conozca, conozcamos, conozcáis, conozcan
In present subjunctive, it's *conozcan*.
It's 'Nos conocimos.'
Conclusion
Conocer is essential for expressing familiarity or acquaintance with people, places, and things in Spanish, offering a nuanced way to describe relationships and experiences.
- Use conocer for personal connections and experiences, not for facts.
- Master its conjugations to talk about knowing and meeting in various contexts.
- Distinguish conocer from saber for more precise and natural Spanish.