Saber vs. conocer I/II
Introduction
Saber/conocer is another puzzle created to deliberately stump Spanish learners. Kidding! It can be a little bit tricky, though. Practice, therefore, is key.
Saber and Conocer
Like ser and estar, saber and conocer have the same English translation (“to know”), even though they really mean slightly different things in Spanish. Before we start working on the differences between the two, familiarize yourself with the conjugations, which are slightly irregular.
Saber
Conocer
Now we can move on to the fun stuff: usage. Generally, you can think of saber as related to knowledge of an informational type, in the way you know facts, information, or how to tie a shoe. Conocer means to be familiar with — to know a person, a city, or a device. Conocer can also mean “to meet,” depending on context. Below is a chart that hopefully smoothes this all out for you.
Examples
Yo sé montar en bicicleta. (“I know how to ride a bike.”)
Yo conozco este tipo de bicicleta. (“I know this type of bike.” OR “I am familiar with this type of bike.”)
Ella sabe todo el texto. (“She knows the whole textbook.”)
Ella conoce al autor del texto. (“She knows the author of the textbook.”)
Practice
Saber and concocer are both translated as "to know." However, their uses differ.
1. saber expresses knowledge of facts, or of how to do something.
2. conocer expresses familiarity with something, whether a person, place, or thing. It can also mean "to meet" in context.
Quick reference:
Additional Resources:
In your textbook (Realidades I):
1. Capítulo 9B
In your textbook (Realidades II):
1. Capítulo 1B
