Saber vs Conocer Explained for English Speakers (Simple Guide)
If you’re learning Spanish, you’ve probably noticed something confusing right away:
👉 In English, we use just one verb: to know.
👉 In Spanish, we use two different verbs: saber and conocer.
This is why saber vs conocer is one of the most common problems for English speakers.
And no, the difference is not random.
It follows a very clear logic once you see it.
💡 Important note for English speakers
Spanish creates confusion with several verb pairs that don’t exist in English.
Another very common one is ser vs estar.
👉 If you haven’t read it yet, check out our guide:
Ser vs Estar Explained for English Speakers
(link this text to your SER vs ESTAR article)
The good news?
Saber vs conocer works with a much simpler rule.
❌ Why English speakers get confused
In English, to know covers everything:
information
people
places
skills
Spanish separates these ideas.
The key question is not “Do I know?”
The key question is:
👉 What kind of “knowing” do I mean?
SABER → facts, information, and skills
Use SABER when you’re talking about:
facts
information
knowledge in your head
knowing how to do something
Think of SABER as mental knowledge.
Examples
Sé la respuesta. (I know the answer.)
Sé dónde vive ella. (I know where she lives.)
Sé que el español es difícil. (I know that Spanish is difficult.)
Sé manejar. (I know how to drive.)
SABER = to know information or how to do something
CONOCER → people, places, and familiarity
Use CONOCER when you’re talking about:
people
places
things you are familiar with
personal experience
Think of CONOCER as experience and familiarity.
Examples
Conozco a María. (I know María.)
Conozco esa ciudad. (I know that city.)
Conozco este restaurante. (I’m familiar with this restaurant.)
No conozco Colombia todavía. (I don’t know Colombia yet.)
CONOCER = to be familiar with someone or something
🔄 Saber vs Conocer: quick comparison
| What you want to say | Spanish verb |
|---|---|
| Knowing information | SABER |
| Knowing how to do something | SABER |
| Knowing a person | CONOCER |
| Knowing a place | CONOCER |
| Knowing through experience | CONOCER |
Common mistakes English speakers make
Let’s fix some very common errors:
❌ Sé María
✅ Conozco a María❌ Conozco que ella vive aquí
✅ Sé que ella vive aquí❌ Sé España
✅ Conozco España
💡 Rule reminder:
If it’s a person or place, it’s almost always CONOCER.
🧠 A simple rule to remember
Ask yourself this:
Can I replace “know” with information? → SABER
Can I replace “know” with be familiar with? → CONOCER
That’s it. No memorization. No translation tricks.
🧠 Quick recap
SABER → facts, information, skills
CONOCER → people, places, familiarity
English uses to know for both
Spanish does not
Once you stop translating word by word, this becomes very natural.
🚀 Want to stop guessing in Spanish?
Many English speakers struggle with verb pairs like:
saber vs conocer
por vs para
At Spanish Chévere, we teach Spanish grammar clearly, practically, and with English support when you need it.
👉 Book your free Spanish class and start using Spanish with confidence.