vs
QUICK ANSWER
"Conocer" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to know", and "sabe" is a transitive verb which is also often translated as "to know". Learn more about the difference between "conocer" and "sabe" below.
conocer(
koh
-
noh
-
sehr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
b. to be familiar with
Estuve una vez en Cuzco pero no lo conozco bien.I’ve been to Cuzco once, but I'm not very familiar with it.
a. to get to know (a person or a place)
Conociéndolo mejor, veo que es buena persona.Getting to know him better, I can see he's a good person.
Cuando llegamos a Madrid, salimos a caminar para conocer la ciudad.When we got to Madrid, we went out to walk around and get to know the city.
b. to familiarize oneself with
Tómate algún tiempo para conocer las nuevas reglas.Take some time to familiarize yourself with the new rules.
a. to visit
Siempre me hablas de tu ciudad natal pero ¿cuando la voy a conocer?You always talk to me about your hometown, but when do I get to visit it?
b. to go to
Quiero conocer el sudeste asiático este verano.I want to go to Southeast Asia this summer.
c. to see
Ellos conocieron toda Europa durante su luna de miel.They saw all of Europe during their honeymoon.
d. no direct translation (in present perfect)
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
¿Conoces Londres?Have you ever been to London?
No conozco Nueva Zelanda, pero me encantaría ir.I've never been to New Zealand, but I'd love to go.
8. (literary) (to have sexual relations with)
A word or phrase restricted in usage to literature or established writing (e.g., sex, once upon a time).
a. to know (old-fashioned)
A word or phrase that is seldom used in contemporary language and is recognized as being from another decade, (e.g., cat, groovy).
Lázaro aún no había conocido hembra.Lazarus had yet to know a woman.
9. (to master)
a. to know
¡No te preocupes! Ella conoce este tema como la palma de su mano.Don't worry! She knows this topic like the back of her hand.
b. to speak (languages)
Ella conoce el francés y el alemán porque se crió en Suiza.She speaks French and German because she was raised in Switzerland.
An impersonal verb is a verb with no apparent subject (e.g., Llueve en España.).
11. (to appear)
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. to try
El juez que conoce del caso podría ser recusado por una de las partes.The judge who tried the case may be recused by either party.
a. to know about
Él conoce de esa industria porque su papá fue ingeniero.He knows about that industry because his dad was an engineer.
conocerse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
A reciprocal verb is a verb that indicates that two or more subjects perform an action on each other (e.g., Ellos se abrazan.).
a. to know each other
Es una pena que no nos llegamos a conocer mejor.It's a shame we didn't get to know each other better.
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
18. (to be known)
saber(
sah
-
behr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. to know
¿Qué sabes del paradero del acampamento de la rebelión?What do you know about the whereabouts of the rebel camp?
a. to hear
Supe del problema del agua ayer. ¿Qué vas a hacer?I heard about the problem with the water yesterday. What are you going to do?
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
¡Me sabe genial recibir un 10 en el examen!I feel great getting a 10 on the exam!
Me supo muy mal cómo te hablaron en la junta.I really disliked the way they talked to you in the meeting.
8. (colloquial) (to be in the habit of) (Andes) (Argentina) (Central America)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Argentina
Regionalism used in Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama
a. to use to
Mi abuela sabía comprarse toda su ropa en una tienda de departamentos muy elegante.My grandmother used to buy all her clothes in a fancy department store.
An impersonal verb is a verb with no apparent subject (e.g., Llueve en España.).
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
saberse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
