What's the difference between saber and conocer?

Saber = to know information, facts, or skills (sé la verdad, sé nadar). Conocer = to know / be familiar with people, places, or things (conozco a María, conozco Madrid). Both translate as to know in English.

Use saber for: facts (sé la verdad), information (sé dónde está), questions (sé qué hacer), and skills (sé nadar = I know how to swim). Saber + que / interrogative / infinitive.

When do I use conocer?

Use conocer for: people (conozco a María), places (conozco Madrid), things (conozco la película), or topics (conozco el tema). With people, always add the personal a: conocer a + person.

How do saber and conocer change meaning in the preterite?

Supe = I found out (not I knew). Conocí = I met for the first time (not I knew). The imperfect (sabía, conocía) means ongoing knowledge / familiarity. The preterite captures the moment of discovery / first meeting.

How can I master saber and conocer?

Memorize: saber = facts / skills, conocer = familiarity. Drill yo forms (sé, conozco - both irregular). Practice with people (conocer + a), with skills (saber + infinitive). Know the preterite shift (supe / conocí). Parrot's videos surface natural usage of both verbs.

Spanish grammar · Beginner

How to Use Saber and Conocer in Spanish: The Complete Guide

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Saber = to know information or skills (Sé la respuesta, sé nadar). Conocer = to know / be familiar with people, places, things (Conozco a María, conozco Madrid). Both translate as to know in English; Spanish distinguishes them.

Sé hablar español. Conozco a María.

I know how to speak Spanish. I know María.

What it is

Spanish distinguishes saber (to know information / skills) from conocer (to know / be familiar with people, places, things). Both translate as to know in English, but they're not interchangeable.

Sé hablar español (I know how to speak Spanish, skill) uses saber. Conozco a María (I know María, person) uses conocer.

How to spot it

Saber = facts (sé que...), information (sé la respuesta), skills (sé conducir). Conocer = people (conozco a Juan), places (conozco Madrid), things (conozco el libro).

Sé la respuesta. — I know the answer. (information)
Conozco a Juan. — I know Juan. (person)
Sé nadar. — I know how to swim. (skill)

In the preterite, both verbs change meaning: supe = I found out, conocí = I met (for the first time).

How to Use Saber and Conocer in Spanish Quick Reference

Saber vs. conocer

Verb	Use	Examples
saber	Information / facts	Sé la verdad.
saber + que	Knowing that...	Sé que vienes.
saber + interrogative	Knowing what / when / how	Sé qué hacer.
saber + infinitivo	Skill (know how to)	Sé conducir.
conocer + person (with a)	Familiarity with person	Conozco a María.
conocer + place	Familiarity with place	Conozco Madrid.
conocer + thing / topic	Familiarity with topic	Conozco el libro.

Common How to Use Saber and Conocer in Spanish Examples in Spanish

Saber and conocer in real contexts:

Saber: Information / Facts

Sé la respuesta.: I know the answer.
Sé dónde está.: I know where he is.
¿Sabes qué hora es?: Do you know what time it is?
Saben la verdad.: They know the truth.
Sé que vienes mañana.: I know you're coming tomorrow.

Use saber for knowing facts, information, or details.

Saber: Skills (Know How To)

Sé hablar español.: I know how to speak Spanish.
Sabe conducir.: She knows how to drive.
Sabemos cocinar bien.: We know how to cook well.
¿Sabes nadar?: Do you know how to swim?
Saben tocar el piano.: They know how to play the piano.

Saber + infinitive = to know how to do something.

Conocer: People (with a)

Conozco a María.: I know María.
¿Conoces a mi hermano?: Do you know my brother?
Conocemos a tus padres.: We know your parents.
Conocen a mucha gente.: They know a lot of people.
No conozco a esa persona.: I don't know that person.

When the direct object is a person, use the personal a: conozco A María (NOT *conozco María).

Conocer: Places, Topics, Works

Conozco Madrid muy bien.: I know Madrid very well.
¿Conoces ese restaurante?: Do you know that restaurant?
Conozco la obra de Cervantes.: I know Cervantes' work.
Conozco el tema.: I'm familiar with the topic.
No conocemos esa película.: We don't know that movie.

Conocer for being familiar with places, topics, works, restaurants, etc.

Saber vs. Conocer

Saber = Information / Skills

Use saber for knowing facts (sé la verdad), info (sé dónde), skills (sé nadar). Saber + interrogative (qué, dónde, cómo) or + que + clause.

Sé que / sé qué / sé dónde / sé cómo.

Saber for facts and skills.

Saber = info / skill.

Conocer = Familiarity (People / Places / Things)

Use conocer for being familiar with someone or something. Conocer never takes an infinitive (you can't *conocer hablar = know how to speak; use saber).

Conozco a Juan. Conozco Madrid.

Conocer for familiarity.

Conocer = familiarity.

Personal a with Conocer + People

When conocer's object is a person, you MUST use the personal a: Conozco A María. The personal a is mandatory for human direct objects.

Conozco a María. NOT *Conozco María.

Personal a required.

Conocer + person: use a.

Both Verbs Have Irregular Yo Forms

Saber: yo sé (not *sabo). Conocer: yo conozco (not *conoco). Other forms regular: tú sabes / conoces, él sabe / conoce, etc.

Sé / conozco. (irregular yo)

Irregular yo forms.

Sé and conozco are irregular.

Common Mistakes with How to Use Saber and Conocer in Spanish

Incorrect: Conozco la respuesta. — I know the answer.

Correct: Sé la respuesta. — I know the answer.

The answer is information / fact, not a person or place to be familiar with. Use saber, not conocer.

Incorrect: Sé a María. — I know María.

Correct: Conozco a María. — I know María.

María is a person to be familiar with, not a piece of information. Use conocer + a + person.

Incorrect: Conozco hablar español. — I know how to speak Spanish.

Correct: Sé hablar español. — I know how to speak Spanish.

Skills (know how to + verb) use saber + infinitive. Conocer never takes an infinitive.

Saber and Conocer in the Preterite

Meaning Changes in Preterite

Both verbs change meaning in the preterite. Supe = I found out (not I knew, that's the imperfect sabía). Conocí = I met (for the first time), not I knew (imperfect conocía).

Supe la verdad ayer.: I found out the truth yesterday.
Conocí a María en la fiesta.: I met María at the party. (first meeting)
Sabía la verdad.: I knew the truth. (ongoing)
Conocía a María desde hace años.: I had known María for years. (ongoing)

Imperfect = ongoing knowledge / familiarity. Preterite = the moment of finding out / meeting. This is a classic aspect distinction.

How to Use Saber and Conocer in Spanish FAQs

What's the difference between saber and conocer?: Saber = to know information, facts, or skills (sé la verdad, sé nadar). Conocer = to know / be familiar with people, places, or things (conozco a María, conozco Madrid). Both translate as to know in English.
When do I use saber?: Use saber for: facts (sé la verdad), information (sé dónde está), questions (sé qué hacer), and skills (sé nadar = I know how to swim). Saber + que / interrogative / infinitive.
When do I use conocer?: Use conocer for: people (conozco a María), places (conozco Madrid), things (conozco la película), or topics (conozco el tema). With people, always add the personal a: conocer a + person.
How do saber and conocer change meaning in the preterite?: Supe = I found out (not I knew). Conocí = I met for the first time (not I knew). The imperfect (sabía, conocía) means ongoing knowledge / familiarity. The preterite captures the moment of discovery / first meeting.
How can I master saber and conocer?: Memorize: saber = facts / skills, conocer = familiarity. Drill yo forms (sé, conozco - both irregular). Practice with people (conocer + a), with skills (saber + infinitive). Know the preterite shift (supe / conocí). Parrot's videos surface natural usage of both verbs.