Portuguese · Everyday Verbs
"to know (a person or place)" in Portuguese: conhecer
conhecer
To know a person or place in Portuguese is conhecer. Say eu conheço and você conhece. Use saber for facts; use conhecer for people, cities, and restaurants.
People
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How to pronounce conhecer
Say it
ko-nyeh-SEHR / ko-NYEH-soo / ko-NYEH-see
/ko.ɲe.ˈseʁ/
ko-nyeh-SEHR. Eu conheço is ko-NYEH-soo; você conhece is ko-NYEH-see.
"to know (a person or place)" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| conhecer | to know / to meet (someone) Dictionary form. | Dictionary form. |
| eu conheço | I know / I've been to First person. | First person. |
| você conhece | you know Questions about people or places. | Questions about people or places. |
| prazer em conhecer | nice to meet you Meeting someone new. | Meeting someone new. |
| conhecer alguém | to meet / get to know someone Social plans. | Social plans. |
How to use conhecer in real life
- 1People
Você conhece a nova vizinha do terceiro andar?
Do you know the new neighbor on the third floor?
Conhecer for people.
- 2Places
Eu conheço bem o centro de Belo Horizonte.
I know downtown Belo Horizonte well.
Conhecer for places you have experience with.
- 3First meeting
Prazer em te conhecer. Eu sou a Marina.
Nice to meet you. I'm Marina.
Conhecer in introductions.
Mistakes English speakers make with conhecer
Incorrect: Eu sei o João.
Correct: Eu conheço o João.
People take conhecer, not saber.
Incorrect: Eu conhecço ela.
Correct: Eu conheço ela.
Spelling is conheço with one c before ç.
Good to know
Conhecer covers both knowing someone already and meeting them for the first time—Prazer em conhecer. For facts and know-how, switch to saber. Brazilians ask Você conhece…? constantly when recommending places.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Recommending a dentist
ChatPal
Você conhece um dentista bom perto daqui?
Do you know a good dentist near here?
You
Conheço. A Clara é excelente.
I do. Clara is excellent.
ChatPal
Você conhece o consultório dela também?
Do you know her office too?
You
Conheço sim. Fica na Rua das Flores.
Yes I do. It's on Rua das Flores.
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 person or place)" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to know (a person or place)" in Portuguese
I know (a person)?
Eu conheço.
Do you know this place?
Você conhece este lugar?
Conhecer vs saber?
Conhecer = people/places. Saber = facts/how to.
Nice to meet you?
Prazer / Prazer em conhecer.
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
