Saber and conocer are both translated to know in English. This can be confusing to some students, so we have written this article to help you learn the difference between saber and conocer.

When to Use Saber

The difference between saber and conocer can be tricky sometimes. First, we are going to go through the main uses of saber and then we’ll continue with the uses of conocer.

Saber: Understanding

Saber is used to indicate you have understood something or you are able to do something, usually because you have learned it.

Te gustan mucho los deportes y sabes esquiar.

You like sports a lot and you can ski.

Lo siento, no te puedo ayudar. No sé inglés.

Sorry, I can’t help you. I don’t know English.

If saber is followed by an infinitive, then it implies knowing how to do something. Thus it is usually translated to can.

No sé hablar inglés.

I don’t know how to speak English. = I can’t speak English.

¿Sabéis cantar esta canción?

Do you know how to sing this song? = Can you sing this song?

Saber de: Having a General Knowledge

Saber de indicates having a general knowledge about something.

Mi padre sabe mucho de historia.

My father knows a lot about history.

Esta profesora no sabe nada de mí.

This teacher does not know anything about me.

To Know: Saber vs. Saber de

See the difference between saber and saber de when meaning to know.

No sé la historia de ese país.

I don’t know the history of that country.

No sé de historia.

I don’t know about history.

The first sentence suggests you don’t know the history of that country. Probably you have not studied it, so you are not familiar with it. The second sentence suggests you don’t have a general knowledge about history.

¿Sabes japonés?

Do you know Japanese?

¿Cuánto sabes de japonés?

How much do you know about Japanese?

The first sentence asks if you know Japanese or if you can speak Japanese. The second sentence asks how much knowledge you have about the Japanese language.

Saber que: Being Aware

Saber que can indicate being aware of something. Saber que is followed by a sentence in indicative mood.

Tu hermano sabe que trabajo aquí.

Your brother knows that I work here.

Laura no sabe que a veces cantamos en el parque.

Laura does not know that we sometimes sing in the park.

Saber a: Tasting

Saber a means to taste like something.

He comprado una tarta. Sabe a fresa.

I have bought a cake. It tastes like strawberry.

Estas galletas saben a vainilla. No me gustan.

These cookies taste like vanilla. I do not like them.

To Taste: Saber vs. Saber a

Omit the preposition a when expressing how it tastes. After saber with this meaning, you should use an adverb.

La tarta sabe bien.

The cake tastes good.

Estas galletas saben mal.

These cookies taste bad.

As you can see, the difference between saber and saber a when it means tasting depends on the word that follows it. If you want to say which flavor you taste, you should use saber a. However, if you want to say how it tastes, you should use saber. Let’s see an example with saber and saber a to see the difference.

El yogur sabe bien porque no sabe a plátano.

The yoghurt tastes good because it doesn’t taste like banana.

When to Use Conocer

After reading this article, you will have a better idea of the difference between saber and conocer. Now we are going to see the main uses of conocer.

Conocer: Knowing a Person

Conocer indicates you know someone. For example, you have already met them before, so you are familiar with them.

Antonio no conoce bien a mi hermana.

Antonio does not know my sister well.

¿Conoces a la nueva secretaria? Está allí.

Do you know the new secretary? It is there.

As you can see, there is a difference between saber and conocer depending on what you know. If you know something, then you should use saber. However, if you know someone, you should use conocer.

Conocer: Meeting for the First Time

Conocer can also be used to express meeting someone for the first time. With this meaning, it is translated to meet in English.

Ayer conocí a Luis en una reunión.

Yesterday I met Luis at a meeting.

En la fiesta puedes conocer al cantante.

At the party you can meet the singer

Conocer: Knowing a Place

Conocer can also indicate knowing a place, usually because you have been there before.

Nunca he estado en París. No lo conozco.

I have never been to Paris. I don’t know it.

¿Conoces Milán? Me han dicho que es bonito.

Do you know Milan? I’ve been told it is beautiful.

Exercises – Difference between Saber and Conocer

Do you know when to use saber or conocer in Spanish? We have covered their main uses and now you can practice the difference between saber and conocer with these exercises.

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

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VerbsGrammarVerb ConocerVerb Saber