These very useful and common verbs can cause confusion because they both mean “to know”. However...
Saber is used in the context of knowing information, ideas or how to do something.
e.g., “Yo sé tocar la guitarra.” I know how to (I can) play the guitar
Conocer is used in the context of knowing a person or a place. Think of it as meaning “to be familiar with”.
e.g., “¿Conoces bien la ciudad?” Do you know the city well?
Formation
This is how they conjugate in the present tense. Both ‘yo’ forms are irregular.
Saber - to know
Yo sé I know
Tú sabes You know
Usted sabe You (formal) know
Él sabe He knows
Ella sabe She knows
Nosotros sabemos We (masc.) know
Nosotras sabemos We (fem.) know
Vosotros sabéis You (pl. masc.) know
Vosotras sabéis You (pl. fem.) know
Ustedes saben You (plural) know
Ellos saben They (masc.) know
Ellas saben They (fem.) know
Conocer to know
Yo conozco I know
Tú conoces You know
Usted conoce You (formal) know
Él conoce He knows
Ella conoce She knows
Nosotros conocemos We (masc.) know
Nosotras conocemos We (fem.) know
Vosotros conocéis You (pl. masc.) know
Vosotras conocéis You (pl. fem.) know
Ustedes conocen You (plural) know
Ellos conocen They (masc.) know
Ellas conocen They (fem.) know
Usage
SABER: To know – a piece of information or how to do something. It is therefore sometimes translated into English as “can” but
Por ejemplo:
1. ¿Sabes nadar? Do you know how to swim? / Can you swim?
2. Mi hijo sabe contar en ruso. My son can count in Russian.
3. Ellas no saben jugar al póker. They don’t know how to play poker
4. ¡No sé! I don’t know
CONOCER: To Know a Person, Place, or Thing
Conocer is used when the subject knows a particular person or place, as in, “Do you know Madrid very well?” or “Do you know Javier?”
It can also be used in the context of knowing a particular thing, such as, “I know this magazine. I used to read it on the way to work,” or “I know those shoes! I gave them to the charity shop last week!”
Por ejemplo:
Ellos conocen el barrio donde vive mi tía. They know the neighbourhood where my aunt lives.
Conozco este modelo, como casi lo compré anteriormente. I know this model, as I almost bought it previously.
No conozco al* profe de tu hija. I don't know your daughter’s teacher.
*don’t forget the personal a when referring to knowing a person
Knowing Places
Something to watch out for:
If someone asks you:
¿Conoces Catalonia?
…they probably want to know if you’ve been to the region at all. But, if you are asked:
¿Conoces Catalonia bien?
…they want to know whether you are familiar with the region, i.e., whether you know it well.
To meet
Conocer can also meet to meet (for the first time).
Conocí al cineasta personalmente cuando lo entrevisté.
I met the filmmaker in person when I interviewed him.
Related words and phrases
Conocer
Un conocido, una conocida an acquaintance
el conocimiento knowledge
reconocer recognise, admit
desconocer to be ignorant of
muy conocido very well known
Saber
sabio, sabia wise, learnéd
un sabidillo, una sabidilla a know-all
Señor Sabelotodo Mr Know-it-all
la sabiduría knowledge, wisdom
Que yo sepa* as far as I know
¡Quién sabe! Who knows! Maybe!
*this phrase requires the subjunctive
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