French · Everyday Verbs
"to know (a fact)" in French: savoir
savoir
To know a fact or how to do something in French is savoir. Je sais, tu sais, il/elle sait are common present forms. For people and places, French prefers connaître.
Quiz
Tu sais la réponse ?Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce savoir
Say it
sa-VWAHR
/sa.vwaʁ/
Savoir is sa-VWAHR. Sais and sait sound like seh. Soft r on the infinitive.
"to know (a fact)" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| savoir | to know (facts / how to) Infinitive. | Infinitive. |
| je sais / tu sais / il sait | I know / you know / he knows Present. | Present. |
| je ne sais pas | I don't know Everyday negative. | Everyday negative. |
| savoir + infinitive | to know how to Je sais nager. | Je sais nager. |
How to use savoir in real life
- 1Quiz
Tu sais la réponse ?
Do you know the answer?
Tu sais + fact.
- 2Skills
Je sais conduire, mais pas ici.
I can drive, but not here.
Savoir + infinitive = know how.
- 3Uncertainty
On ne sait jamais avec la météo.
You never know with the weather.
On ne sait.
Mistakes English speakers make with savoir
Incorrect: Je savoir.
Correct: Je sais.
Conjugate: je sais.
Incorrect: Je sais Marie.
Correct: Je connais Marie.
People take connaître, not savoir.
Good to know
Savoir vs connaître is a classic learner hurdle: facts and skills with savoir; familiarity with people, cities, and works with connaître.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Checking a train time
ChatPal
Tu sais à quelle heure part le train ?
Do you know what time the train leaves?
You
Je sais qu'il part à 18 h 20.
I know it leaves at 6:20 p.m.
ChatPal
Parfait. Je savais plus.
Perfect. I couldn't remember.
You
Je vérifie aussi sur l'appli.
I'll double-check on the app too.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"to know (a fact)" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to know (a fact)" in French
What is to know (a fact) in French?
Savoir.
How do I say I know?
Je sais.
Savoir or connaître?
Savoir for facts/skills; connaître for people and places.
How do you pronounce savoir?
Sa-VWAHR.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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