conocer vs.saber

Question

What do you say when it comes to the location of something like a restaurant. Would it be conozco donde está el restauraunte or sé?

Answer 1

The choice depends on the fine difference between being familiar with something as opposed to knowing a fact, Here are two examples which may help.

Do you know of (are you familiar with) with a good Mexican restaurant? ¿Conoces un buen restaurante mejicana?

Do you know where there is a good Mexican restaurant? ¿Sabes donde está un buen restaurante mejicana?

If you are asking about or giving the location of something the word to use is "estar"

Do you mean 'saber' where you have 'estar'? :) - Kiwi-Girl, Feb 17, 2011

No, I did mean "estar." It is the form used in giving or asking for locations. - Otravez, Feb 17, 2011

I think thses are really good examples. - amy_moreno, Feb 17, 2011

ah ok I just wondered as Spanishcoco had used 'está' in her example. All good :) - Kiwi-Girl, Feb 17, 2011

Answer 2

Conocer = to be familiar

My father's generation used the English verb familiar more than the present generation does. If you just think how they would have use the verb familiar you will have a good handle on conocer vs saber.

Are you familiar with the Mexican restaurant? ¿Conoces el restaurante? The present generation would say: do you know that Mexican restaurant?

Do you know where the restaurant is? ¿Sabes donde está el restaurante? This generation would say do you know where the restaurant is?

Answer 3

Hmm that's a tricky one as saber is to know a fact and I guess the location of something could be considered a fact, whereas conocer is to be familiar with or to know a person, place etc - which also fits - perhaps both work? Saber just to know where it is and conocer to actually be familiar with it so as to know where it is. But basically I'm just guessing hopefully a native will come along and make everything clear

If I had to choose I'd go with saber: ¿Sabe(s) dónde está .....?