use od to know
when to use saber o conocer
2 Answers
Hello facastro, and "Welome" to Q&A! In answer to your question: Conocer means to be aquainted with a person, place or thing. Saber means to know how or know a fact. But of course, they BOTH mean 'To know'. Language is a funny thing isn't it?!! Hope you get lots of enjoyment from this forum...Jool.
Also, the conjugation of the verb can indicate its meaning.
Saber in preterite: found out in conditional: knew (knowlege of some fact) Examples: Al fin de La Guerra de Las Galaxias, Luke supo que Leah era su hermana.= At the end of Star Wars, Luke found out that Leah was his sister. En el examen de ayer, sabía todas las respuestas.=In the test yesterday, I knew all the answers.
Conocer In preterite: To meet In conditional: to know (a person, a place) En marzo de 2010, conocí a Pablo.= In March 2010, I met Pablo (for the first time). Conocía a Pablo antes de 2011, cuando fui a estudiar en Madrid.= I knew Pablo before 2011, when I went to study in Madrid. (meaning I had already met him, we knew each other, and we were friends)
Also, conocer can mean "to be familiar with," as in a city. If you say you like to travel and someone says "¿Conoces Madrid?," they are not asking you if you have heard of Madrid as in knowing that it exists. They are asking if you have been there or if you are familiar with it.
