What is the difference between using "saber" and "conocer"?

Question

In the instance of:

I know what your name is.

Would you use conocer or saber in this sentence?

In what other instances would you use conocer and saber, and how would you determine which to use?

Hi Slal - look them up in the Reference section or the Conjugation section. - ian-hill, Sep 27, 2009

Answer 1

Taken from another thread regarding "saber vs. conocer":

Saber is to have information or knowledge about facts or subjects of study.

Conocer is to be acquainted with things, places or people that we have seen, heard or experienced first hand.

That's the very basic difference between the two.

That's how I was taught the difference between the two. - papercuts, Sep 27, 2009

Answer 2

There are big differences in saber or conocer then meet the eye. Example: I could say I saber rock and roll, meaning I understand rock and roll. I know the songs. I could say I conozco rock and roll, which is I REALLY know rock and roll. Not only the songs and things like that, but I live and breath that. That's my friend. That's my conocido. I don't just know it, but I've made friends with it.

Answer 3

You can use conocer in the sense of meeting someone for the first time or visitng a place. It also used in the sense of being familiar with something. The dictionary show all the uses which are too numerous to mention here

Answer 4

I would use "conocer" for knowing you, but "saber" for knowing what your name is. However, I am only a beginner, myself and in fact, first read Nikki's post!

Perhaps a native speaker will correct me and you will have your answer, plus a reference from Nikki and a page (reference site) to go for more information and review from Ian-Francis.

Answer 5

conocer transitive verb

• to know (saber cosas acerca de)

conocer algo a fondo -> to know something well

conocer bien un tema -> to know a lot about a subject

darse a conocer -> to make oneself known

dieron a conocer la noticia a través de la prensa -> they announced the news through the press

• to meet (a una persona) (por primera vez); to know (desde hace tiempo)

¿conoces a mi jefe? -> do you know o have you met my boss?

conocer a alguien de vista -> to know somebody by sight

conocer a alguien de oídas -> to have heard of somebody

¿de qué la conoces? -> how do you know her?

• to get to know, to visit for the first time (lugar, país) (descubrir); to know (desde hace tiempo)

no conozco Rusia -> I've never been to Russia

me gustaría conocer Australia -> I'd like to go to o visit Australia

• (reconocer)

conocer a alguien (por algo) -> to recognize somebody (by something)

conocerse

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saber masculine noun 1. knowledge

el saber no ocupa lugar (Prov) -> you can never know too much

transitive verb 2. to know (conocer)

ya lo sé -> I know

de haberlo sabido (antes) o si lo llego a saber, me quedo en casa -> if I'd known, I'd have stayed at home

hacer saber algo a alguien -> to inform somebody of something, to tell somebody something

para que lo sepas, somos amigos -> we're friends, for your information

1. (ser capaz de)

saber hacer algo -> to know how to do something, to be able to do something

no sé nadar -> I can't swim, I don't know how to swim

sabe hablar inglés/montar en bici -> she can speak English/ride a bike

1. to learn, to find out (enterarse de)

lo supe ayer -> I found out yesterday

¿sabes algo de Juan?, ¿qué sabes de Juan? -> have you had any news from o heard from Juan?

1. to know about (entender de)

sabe mucha física -> he knows a lot about physics

1. (expresiones)

no saber dónde meterse -> not to know where to put oneself

no sabe lo que se hace -> he doesn't know what he's doing

no sabe lo que tiene -> he doesn't realize just how lucky he is

no sé qué decir -> I don't know what to say

¡qué sé yo! -> how should I know!

intransitive verb 7. to taste (tener sabor)(a of)

saber bien/mal -> to taste good/bad

saber a cuernos o rayos (informal figurative) -> to taste disgusting o revolting

le supo mal (figurative) -> it upset o annoyed him (le enfadó)

me sabe mal mentirle (figurative) -> I feel bad about lying to him

1. (entender)

saber de algo -> to know about something

ése sí que sabe -> he's a canny one

1. (tener noticia)

saber de alguien -> to hear from somebody saber de algo -> to learn of something

1. (parecer)

eso me sabe a disculpa -> that sounds like an excuse to me

1. (expresiones)

a saber -> namely (es decir)

¡quién sabe!, ¡vete a saber! -> who knows!

que yo sepa -> as far as I know

no sabe por dónde se anda -> he doesn't have a clue

saberse