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"Supe" is a form of "saber", a transitive verb which is often translated as "to know". "Encontré" is a form of "encontrar", a transitive verb which is often translated as "to find". Learn more about the difference between "supe" and "encontré" below.
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.).
encontrar(
ehn
-
kohn
-
trahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
2. (to uncover)
a. to discover
Ellos encontraron una caja vieja en el bosque.They discovered an old box in the forest.
b. to encounter
Encontramos una bifurcación en el sendero y no sabíamos qué dirección tomar.We encountered a fork in the road and didn't know which path to take.
a. to find
¿No te gusta ir al teatro? - No, lo encuentro muy aburrido.Don't you like to go to the theater? - No, I find it very boring.
encontrarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to be
La playa se encuentra al otro lado de la calle.The beach is on the opposite side of the street.
5. (to sense)
a. to run into
¿Has visto a tu ex recientemente? - Sí. Nos encontramos en el metro hace unas semanas.Have you seen your ex recently? - Yes. We ran into each other on the metro a couple of weeks ago.
b. to run across
Ayer me encontré con Francisca. No sabía que estaba embarazada.I ran across Francisca yesterday. I didn't know she was pregnant.
c. to bump into
La semana pasada me encontré con tu hermano. Se ve más sano.I bumped into your brother last week. He looks healthier.
