French word

connaître

Pronunciation

IPA/konɛtʁ/

Meaning

  • verbknow

Example

Je connais bien Marie.

I know Marie well.

Illustration for connaître (know)

More examples

Elle a connu beaucoup de succès.

She experienced a lot of success.

Core concept

A person, place, or work is familiar because contact has built a mental acquaintance.

Common phrases

  • connaître des difficultés

    experience difficulties

  • connaître un succès

    experience success

  • connaître la vérité

    know the truth

Similar words

savoir: To have knowledge of a fact or a way of doing something.
reconnaître: To identify someone or something from a previous encounter.
fréquenter: To associate regularly with someone or frequent a place.
rencontrer: To encounter someone or meet them in person.

Definition in French

Avoir acquis une connaissance par l'expérience ou par la fréquentation, plutôt qu'un savoir purement factuel ou théorique.

Word origin

Connaître developed from Old French conoistre, ultimately from Latin cognoscere, through historical French sound and form changes.

Usage tips

  • Connaître takes a direct object for people, places, and works, while savoir normally introduces facts or how to do something.

Other meanings

  • experienceverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word