Use saber for information and learned abilities; use conocer for familiarity with a person, place, or thing. Sé dónde está el museo means “I know where the museum is.” Conozco el museo means “I am familiar with the museum.” English uses know in both sentences, but the Spanish verbs describe different kinds of knowledge. Start with that distinction, then practice the complete expressions you need.
Use saber for a fact or an answer
When you know an answer, an address, or what happened, choose saber. The information may be a noun or a whole clause: Sé la respuesta (I know the answer); Sabemos que la tienda está cerrada (we know the shop is closed). With que, you are reporting the information you know.
Question words also fit naturally: ¿Sabes cuándo empieza la clase? means “Do you know when the class starts?” No sé dónde vive means “I do not know where he or she lives.” Keep the accent in qué, cuándo, and dónde when they introduce an indirect question.
Related practice: verbs in real sentences
These chapters from our longer verb lesson offer related examples and practice. Use the written guide for the full contrast. Learn at your own pace. Pause, repeat, and try saying each example out loud. Watch on YouTube ↗
Use saber plus an infinitive for a learned skill
Saber + infinitive means knowing how to do something: Sé nadar (I know how to swim), ¿Sabes conducir? (do you know how to drive?), and Mi hermana sabe cocinar (my sister knows how to cook). The second verb stays in its dictionary form.
This differs from poder, which often concerns possibility or ability in a particular situation. Sé nadar, pero hoy no puedo entrar en la piscina means “I know how to swim, but today I cannot get into the pool.” Perhaps the pool is closed. Your knowledge has not disappeared; the circumstances prevent the action.
Use conocer for people, places, and experience
Conozco a Julia means “I know Julia.” You are acquainted with her. Conozco Sevilla means you are familiar with Seville, usually through experience. ¿Conoces esta canción? asks whether someone recognizes or is familiar with this song. Familiarity can have degrees: La conozco un poco, “I know her a little.”
Notice the personal a in Conozco a Julia and Conocemos a tu profesor. It marks a specific human direct object; it does not turn the person into an indirect object. A city normally needs no personal a: Conozco Bogotá. Do not carry the English preposition from “know about” into these patterns automatically.
Learn sé and conozco, then compare the message
| Subject | Saber | Conocer |
|---|---|---|
| yo | sé | conozco |
| tú | sabes | conoces |
| ella / usted | sabe | conoce |
| nosotros | sabemos | conocemos |
| ellos / ustedes | saben | conocen |
Conozco a Luis, pero no sé su número: I know Luis, but I do not know his number. Conozco el restaurante, pero no sé a qué hora abre: I know the restaurant, but I do not know what time it opens. The same person can have familiarity without possessing a particular fact.
Past tense can change the natural translation
In a story, Conocí a Julia ayer commonly means “I met Julia yesterday.” Ya conocía a Julia means “I already knew Julia.” Similarly, Supe la noticia ayer often means “I found out the news yesterday,” while Ya sabía la noticia describes knowledge you already had.
These are common readings, not a reason to memorize unrelated definitions. The preterite presents a bounded event; the imperfect describes an existing state or background. First make your present-tense choice confidently. Then notice whether a past sentence describes having knowledge or acquiring it. The surrounding conversation still matters when choosing an English translation.
Practice: explain what kind of knowing you mean
Complete each sentence, then check the explanation. 1. No ___ dónde están mis llaves. 2. Mi amigo ___ tocar la guitarra. 3. Nosotros ___ a la nueva profesora. 4. ¿___ este barrio? (tú).
Show answers and explanations
1. sé: information about location. 2. sabe: a learned skill followed by an infinitive. 3. conocemos: familiarity with a person; keep a. 4. Conoces: familiarity with a neighborhood. The complete question means “Do you know this neighborhood?”
Now write two true sentences: one piece of information you know and one place you know well. Say them aloud without translating each word. Useful beginnings are Sé que… and Conozco…. Learning both verbs inside personal examples makes the distinction easier to retrieve.
Sources & further reading
Our examples and explanations are written for LSFR learners. These references provide further detail.