Spanish word

conocer

Pronunciation

IPA/konoˈθeɾ/

Meaning

  • verbknow

Example

¿Conoces este lugar?

Do you know this place?

Illustration for conocer (know)

More examples

Ayer conocí a una compañera de clase.

Yesterday I met a classmate.

Core concept

Practical familiarity with a person, place, or subject gained through direct experience.

Common phrases

  • conocer a alguien

    meet someone

  • conocer bien

    know well

  • conocer el lugar

    know the place

Similar words

saber: Factual knowledge of information, data, or how to do something.
reconocer: Recognizing a person or thing on sight as someone or something seen or met before.
conocerse: Two or more people meeting and becoming acquainted with each other.

Definition in Spanish

Tener familiaridad o dominio práctico sobre una persona, un lugar o un asunto por haberlo vivido o tratado.

Word origin

From Latin cognoscere (con- 'together' + gnoscere 'know'), originally meaning 'get to know', which developed into Spanish conocer.

Usage tips

  • Use conocer for acquaintance or lived experience and saber for facts or abilities; place the personal a before people, and in the preterite conocer often means 'met'.

Other meanings

  • meetverb
  • experienceverb
  • be well versed inverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word