Spoken Description

Descubre la diferencia entre saber y conocer: cuándo usar saber para hechos, información y habilidades, y cuándo usar conocer para personas, lugares y cosas. Incluye ejemplos prácticos y ejercicios útiles.

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Discover the difference between saber and conocer: when to use saber for facts, information, and abilities, and when to use conocer for people, places, and things. Includes practical examples and useful exercises.

Saber and conocer both translate as "to know" in English, but they serve different functions: saber is for knowing information, skills, or facts, while conocer is for being familiar with people, places, or things. This guide highlights their core distinctions with examples.

Saber

Saber is used when referring to knowledge of facts, information, or how to do something. It often precedes an infinitive, a question word, or specific data.

Aquí tienes un resumen de saber con ejemplos para cada uso típico.

Spanish SentenceEnglish Translation
Sé la respuesta.I know the answer.
Sabes dónde está la biblioteca.You know where the library is.
Ella sabe cocinar muy bien.She knows how to cook very well.
¿Sabéis cuándo empieza la clase?Do you (pl.) know when class starts?

Saber se usa cuando se hace referencia a conocimientos de hechos, información o cómo hacer algo. A menudo precede a un infinitivo, una palabra interrogativa o datos específicos.

Aquí tienes un resumen de saber con ejemplos para cada uso típico.

Yo(saber) hablar tres idiomas.

I know how to speak three languages.

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Conocer

Conocer is used for being acquainted or familiar with people, places, or things. It implies experience or direct contact rather than abstract knowledge.

Aquí tienes un resumen de conocer con ejemplos para cada uso típico.

Spanish SentenceEnglish Translation
Conozco a tu hermano.I know your brother.
¿Conoces Madrid?Do you know Madrid?
Ella conoce bien ese restaurante.She knows that restaurant well.
Nosotros conocemos a muchas personas aquí.We know many people here.

Conocer se usa para estar familiarizado o tener conocimiento de personas, lugares o cosas. Implica experiencia o contacto directo en lugar de conocimientos abstractos.

Aquí tienes un resumen de conocer con ejemplos para cada uso típico.

Ella(conocer) a mis padres.

She knows my parents.

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Key Differences

Saber focuses on knowing information or how to do something, while conocer focuses on familiarity through experience with people, places, or things. Use saber + infinitive for skills, and conocer + a person or place.

Summary

Use saber for facts, information, and abilities, and usar conocer for familiarity with people, places, or things. Practicing both in context will make their distinctions instinctive.

Suggested Reading

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No Nonsense Spanish Workbook

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The Everything Learning Spanish Book

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Collins Easy Learning: Spanish Conversation

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Easy Spanish Step-By-Step

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Barron’s 501 Spanish Verbs

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Complete Spanish Step-By-Step

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Practice Makes Perfect: Complete Spanish Grammar

Practice Makes Perfect: Complete Spanish Grammar by Gilda Nissenberg

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