Saber vs. Conocer
SABER vs. CONOCER
TWO WAYS OF KNOWING IN SPANISH
conocer: conozco, conoces, conoce, conocemos, conocéis, conocen
saber: sé, sabes, sabe, sabemos, sabéis saben
Conocer indicates familiarity or recognition and is mostly used for people and places:
No conocemos al presidente.
¿Conoces Acapulco? We don’t know the president.
Do you know Acapulco?
Saber means to be aware of facts or information, to know things by heart, and also to “know how to”:
No saben nadar. ¡No sé qué decir!
No sé dónde está. They can’t swim. I don’t know what to say!
I don’t know where it is.
Two useful rules:
1. One cannot saber people.
2. The verb conocer cannot be immediately followed by que.
Conozco a esa mujer. Sé que vive en Nueva York.
I know that woman. I know she lives in New York.