Skip to content
ShadowLearn by engaging
Spanish ShadowLanguages on ShadowMore from SpanishPodcast

A2 Spanish Word Pair

Saber vs Conocer: Two Ways to Know

saber vs conocer

0:49 min video · 3 sentences · 3 key words

Transcript with English

Hide the English to test yourself.
  1. No sé tu número.I don't know your number.
  2. Conozco a tu hermano.I know your brother.
  3. Javier sabe cocinar paella.Javier knows how to cook paella.

About this lesson

Three short situations show when to use saber for facts and skills, and conocer for people and places.

How to practise

  1. Before each example plays, pick the word that fits and say your answer out loud.
  2. Read the difference card, then repeat every example in the Te toca · Your turn pause.
  3. At the end, check the common mistake so you never make it again.

The difference: saber vs conocer

  • saber know facts, know how to. Facts, information and learned skills
  • conocer know, be familiar with. People, places and things you have met

Common mistake: Sé a tu hermano. ✗ · Conozco a tu hermano. ✓ (Use conocer, not saber, for knowing a person.)

Which one fits?

Say the missing word out loud first, then open the answer.

  1. No ＿＿ tu número.

    sé / conozco · Not remembering a fact

    Show the answer

    No sé tu número.

    I don't know your number.

  2. ＿＿ a tu hermano.

    Sé / Conozco · Being familiar with a person

    Show the answer

    Conozco a tu hermano.

    I know your brother.

  3. Javier ＿＿ cocinar paella.

    sabe / conoce · A skill he has learned

    Show the answer

    Javier sabe cocinar paella.

    Javier knows how to cook paella.

Key words

SpanishEnglishLevel
saberknow facts, know how to
conocerknow, be familiar with
hermanobrother

New A2 lessons every week

Stories, listening quizzes and conversations at your level.

Subscribe on YouTube

Get The Spanish Shadow Weekly

One email every Sunday: the week's new Spanish videos, one grammar point and one culture note. Free.

More A2 lessons

All A2 lessons →