CONOCER VS SABER

If you want to translate the verb "to know" into Spanish, you have two verbs to choose from: saber and conocer. Both mean “to know” in English but they are not interchangeable. Knowing which verb to use depends on the context.

Rules, Uses & Examples

Conocer

We use the verb "conocer" in the following situations:

• to express familiarity with a person, place, or object:

Conozco muy bien esta calle. (I know this street very well.)

¿Conoces a mi primo? (Do you know my cousin?)

Nos conocemos desde siempre. (We have known each other forever.)

Conoce la arquitectura francesa. (She is familiar with French arquitecture.)

Saber

We use the verb "saber" in the following situations:

• to express knowledge, or lack thereof, of information about something

No sé donde está. (I don't know where it is.)

Sabe la verdad. (He knows the truth.)

¿Sabes cuántas estrellas hay en el cielo? (Do you know how many stars are in the sky?)

Sé que no quieres ir a la fiesta. (I know that you don't want to go to the party.)

• to express knowledge, or lack thereof, of how to do something or perform a skill (saber + infinitive)

Sabe encontrar buenos precios. (He knows how find good prices.)

No sabe bailar bien. (He does not know how to dance well.)

Sé cocinar como un chef. (I know how to cook like a chef.)

No sabemos llegar a la casa de Pedro. (We don't know how to get to Pedro’s house.)

• to express that one knows, or doesn't know, something thoroughly

Sabe todas las reglas de ser y estar. (He knows all of the rules for ser and estar.)

Sé todo el alfabeto en español. (I know the whole alphabet in Spanish.)

via enforex.com