Italian 3.3. The Verb “To Know”: “Sapere” vs. “Conoscere”

There are two verbs in Italian that correspond to the verb “to know” in English: “sapere” and “conoscere.” Knowing when to use “sapere” and when to use “conoscere” should not be difficult if you understand the subtle difference between the two concepts of “knowing.”

In short, the verb “sapere” is used to describe knowledge of facts, concepts, skills, abilities, etc. On the other hand, the verb “conoscere” is used to describe recognition or familiarity with a person, a place, or an object, including a movie, a site, a brand, etc.

When referring to a language, one could use either “sapere” or “conoscere.” The difference is that “Conosco l’italiano” indicates that you know some Italian or that you are familiar with the language, whereas “So l’italiano” or “So parlare l’italiano” indicates that you know Italian well enough to speak it.

Below is a reminder of the present tense conjugation of both verbs.

	sapere	conoscere
io	so	conosco
tu	sai	conosci
lui/lei	sa	conosce
noi	sappiamo	conosciamo
voi	sapete	conoscete
loro	sanno	conoscono

Examples of “Sapere” & “Conoscere” in Italian

Here are some examples that use the verbs “sapere” and “conoscere” in Italian and highlight the difference:

“sapere” and “conoscere” Examples	Explanation
Sai se c’è qualcuno dentro? Do you know if there is someone inside?	When referring to a fact (whether someone is inside or not), use “sapere.”
Lei non sa nuotare. She doesn’t know how to swim.	When referring to a skill, use “sapere.”
Non so dove ci sia una scuola. I don’t know where there is a school.	When referring to a fact (whether a school exists nearby), use “sapere.”
Non conosco molto bene la città. I don’t know the city very well.	When referring to recognizing a place, use “conoscere.”
Non conoscono i miei genitori. They don’t know my parents.	When referring to recognizing a person, use “conoscere.”
Conosci quel film? Do you know that movie?	When referring to recognizing a movie, use “conoscere.”
Conosci l’inglese? (or) Sai l’inglese? Do you know English?	When referring to a language, use “conoscere” or “sapere.”

Expressions that use “Sapere”

The verb “sapere” is used in many expressions in Italian, for example:

lo so	I know	chissà?	who knows?
solo per sapere	just to know	per quanto ne so	as far as I know
senza saperlo	without my knowledge	cosa ne so!	how should I know?!

To know each other using “Conoscere”

The verb “conoscere” is used to refer to the reciprocal act of knowing each other, for example:

Ci conosciamo[1] molto bene.	We know each other very well.
Non si conoscono1.	They don’t know each other.

Use of “Conoscere” Referring to the Past

The verb “conoscere” can also mean “to meet” when referring to the past, e.g., “Ho conosciuto mia moglie all’università” (I met my wife at university).

Next: Indefinite Adjectives & Pronouns

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