Italian · Everyday Verbs
"to know (a fact)" in Italian: sapere
sapere
To know a fact in Italian is sapere (sah-PEH-reh). Present forms: io so, tu sai, lui/lei sa, noi sappiamo. Use sapere for information; conoscere is for people and places.
Answering a quiz from a friend
So la risposta: è Firenze.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce sapere
Say it
sah-PEH-reh
/saˈpe.re/
Sapere stresses PEH: sah-PEH-reh. So is like English soh. Sai is SAH-ee.
"to know (a fact)" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| sapere | to know (facts) Information, how-to, news. | Information, how-to, news. |
| so / sai / sa | I know / you know / he-she knows Irregular singular present. | Irregular singular present. |
| non lo so | I don't know Everyday reply. | Everyday reply. |
| sapere + infinitive | to know how to So nuotare = I can swim / know how. | So nuotare = I can swim / know how. |
How to use sapere in real life
- 1Answering a quiz from a friend
So la risposta: è Firenze.
I know the answer: it's Florence.
So for io.
- 2Checking shared plans
Sai a che ora parte il treno?
Do you know what time the train leaves?
Sai for tu questions.
- 3Talking about a colleague
Lei sa parlare tedesco.
She knows how to speak German.
Sapere + infinitive = know how.
Mistakes English speakers make with sapere
Incorrect: So Marco da anni.
Correct: Conosco Marco da anni.
People take conoscere, not sapere.
Incorrect: Io sapere dove sia.
Correct: So dove sia. / So dov'è.
Conjugate: io so, not io sapere.
Good to know
Non lo so with a shrug is a national sport. Sapere also covers skills (so cucinare) and news (hai saputo…?). Mixing sapere and conoscere is the classic learner trap Italians gently correct.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Checking ticket details before boarding
ChatPal
Sai qual è il binario?
Do you know which platform it is?
You
Non lo so: guardo il tabellone.
I don't know: I'll check the board.
ChatPal
Ok. Sa nessuno se c'è ritardo?
Ok. Does anyone know if there's a delay?
You
Adesso so: binario quattro.
Now I know: platform four.
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 Italian
Sapere or conoscere?
Sapere for facts and know-how. Conoscere for people, cities, and familiarity.
How do I say I don't know?
Non lo so.
How do I say do you know…?
Sai…? informal, or sa…? formal.
Why is so so short?
Sapere is irregular: so, sai, sa, sappiamo, sapete, sanno.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
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- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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