saber, conocer

Question

I am not sure when to use "saber", and when to use "conocer". Is there a rule of thumb? What is the difference? Thanks....

Answer 1

Cherry's explanations are top class, actually. Let me try with different words:

saber is used when you have in your mind specific ideas or fact about factual things that can be learnt. When the knowledge is about becoming familiar or acquainted with something or someonw, we use "conocer".

Thus, historical fact and dates are preferably expressed with "saber", but things learnt through direct experience, like being familiar with a place, are expressed with "conocer".

• Sí ... saber "to know about things", conocer "to know about people, places" that's how I remember it - MiamiDave Nov 28, 2011

Answer 2

[url=http://my.spanishdict.com/forum/topic/show'id=1710195%3ATopic%3A21659&page=1&commentId=1710195%3AComment%3A21841&x=1#1710195Comment21841]http://my.spanishdict.com/forum/topic/show'id=1710195%3ATopic%3A21659&page=1&commentId=1710195%3AComment%3A21841&x=1#1710195Comment21841[/url]

Search previous discussions. Plenty available on this subject.

Answer 3

thanks, I'll do that first, now....

Answer 4

'Do you know anything about quantum mechanics''
'Yes, I am acquainted with the subject'

In English this would generally mean that you are familiar with some of the principles but probably wouldn't be able to solve Schroedingar's wave equation for example. Could you use conocer in this type of way in Spanish?

Would:
"¿Sabes algo de mecánica cuántica'"
"Sí, pues, lo conozco"
work for example'