vs
QUICK ANSWER
"Encontrarse con" is a pronominal verb phrase which is often translated as "to meet with", and "conocer" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to know". Learn more about the difference between "encontrarse con" and "conocer" below.
encontrarse con(
ehng
-
kohn
-
trahr
-
seh
kohn
)A pronominal verb phrase combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Se dio cuenta del problema.)
a. to find
Al levantarse, se encontró con que se había quedado sin café.When he got up, he found he had run out of coffee.
Cuando llegué a casa, me encontré con un desorden tremendo.When I arrived home, I found a huge mess.
b. to come across
Revisando unos cajones, me encontré con dinero que no recordaba tener ahí.Rummaging through my drawers, I came across some money I didn't remember I had there.
a. to run into (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Ayer me encontré con Carlos mientras caminaba por el parque.Yesterday, I ran into Carlos while I was walking in the park.
b. to encounter
Te encontrarás con muchos obstáculos en el camino, pero no abandones.You'll encounter many obstacles along the road, but don't give up.
encontrar con
A transitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and requires a direct object (e.g., take out the trash.).
a. to find ... with
Me resulta difícil encontrar con quién ir al cine porque a nadie le gustan las películas que me gustan a mí.It's hard for me to find someone to go to the movies with because nobody likes the movies I like.
Se divorció de su esposo porque lo encontró con otra mujer en la cama.She divorced her husband because she found him with another woman in bed.
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)
