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QUICK ANSWER
"No contesta" is a phrase which is often translated as "he doesn't answer", and "no sabe" is a phrase which is often translated as "he doesn't know". Learn more about the difference between "no contesta" and "no sabe" below.
no contesta(
noh
kohn
-
tehs
-
tah
)A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
a. he doesn't answer
¿Está Juan en el jardín? Lo estoy llamando, pero no contesta.Is Juan in the garden? I'm calling him, but he doesn't answer.
b. she doesn't answer
Si no contesta el teléfono, será que no está en casa.If she doesn't answer the phone, it's probably because she isn't home.
c. doesn't answer
Cuando un concursante no contesta una pregunta, el otro tiene oportunidad de hacerlo.When a contestant doesn't answer a question, the other has a chance to do so.
2. (formal) (second person singular)
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).
a. you don't answer
Me he dado cuenta de que, cada vez que alguien dice algo que a usted no le gusta, usted sencillamente no contesta.I realize that, whenever someone says something you don't like, you just don't answer.
no sabe(
noh
sah
-
beh
)A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
a. he doesn't know (masculine)
No sabe nada. Me pregunto qué les enseñan en la escuela.He doesn't know a thing. I wonder what they learn at school.
b. she doesn't know (feminine)
¿Qué dijo tu madre cuando se enteró de que habías reprobado el examen? - Todavía no sabe.What did your mother say when she found out you'd failed the exam? - She doesn't know yet.
2. (formal) (aren't aware of; second person singular)
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).
a. you don't know
¿Cómo se atreve a criticarme cuando no sabe nada de mí?How do you dare criticize me when you don't know anything about me?
a. he can't (masculine)
Ramón ya tiene auto, aunque todavía no sabe manejar.Ramon has already got a car, although he can't yet drive.
b. she can't (feminine)
Mi madre es china, pero no sabe hablar mandarín.My mother is Chinese, but she can't speak Mandarin.
c. he doesn't know how (masculine)
Salvador es una persona muy solitaria, y no sabe relacionarse con la gente.Salvador is a very solitary person, and he doesn't know how to relate to people.
d. she doesn't know how (feminine)
Mi hija tiene solo dos años, y no sabe vestirse sola.My daughter is only two years old, and she doesn't know how to get dressed on her own.
4. (formal) (aren't able to; second person singular)
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).
a. you can't
Si no sabe nadar, póngase un chaleco salvavidas en cuanto suba a la barca.If you can't swim, put on a life jacket the moment you get on the boat.
b. you don't know how
Como no sabe montar a caballo, podemos ir en bicicleta.Since you don't know how to ride a horse, we can go by bike.
a. it doesn't taste
¿Has probado la sopa? - Sí, y no sabe a nada. ¿Le añadimos un poco más de sal?Did you try the soup? - Yes, and it doesn't taste of anything. Shall we add a bit more salt?
