Spanish · Everyday Verbs

"to know (a fact)" in Spanish: saber

saber

Say it: sah-BEHR / sehverb/sa.ˈβeɾ/

To know a fact in Spanish is saber. The yo form is sé with an accent. Use saber for information, skills, and how to do something.

Sharing a fact

la respuesta de la pregunta tres.
I know the answer to question three.
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How to pronounce saber

Say it

sah-BEHR / seh

/sa.ˈβeɾ/

Saber is sah-BEHR. Sé is seh with an accent. Sabes is SAH-behs.

"to know (a fact)" in Spanish: quick reference

SpanishEnglish
saberto know (facts / how to)

Dictionary form.

I know

Accented yo form.

sabes / sabeyou know / he-she knows

Questions about facts.

sabemos / sabenwe know / they know

Plural forms.

saber + infinitiveto know how to

Sé nadar.

How to use saber in real life

  1. 1Sharing a fact

    la respuesta de la pregunta tres.

    I know the answer to question three.

    Sé marks knowing information.

  2. 2Asking for a skill

    ¿Sabes cocinar arroz?

    Do you know how to cook rice?

    Sabes + infinitive means know how.

  3. 3Group certainty

    Sabemos el camino al museo.

    We know the way to the museum.

    Sabemos is first-person plural.

Mistakes English speakers make with saber

Incorrect: Yo sabo la hora.

Correct: Yo sé la hora.

The yo form is sé, not sabo.

Incorrect: Sé a María.

Correct: Conozco a María.

People and places use conocer, not saber.

Good to know

Saber vs conocer is a classic beginner split. Saber handles facts and skills; conocer handles people and familiarity with places.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Checking directions before leaving campus

  1. ChatPal

    ¿Sabes dónde queda la estación?

    Do you know where the station is?

  2. You

    Sí. que queda cerca del parque.

    Yes. I know it is near the park.

  3. ChatPal

    Perfecto. Yo no el número del bus.

    Perfect. I don't know the bus number.

  4. You

    Yo sé. Es el doce.

    I do know. It's the twelve.

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"to know (a fact)" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "to know (a fact)" in Spanish

Why does sé have an accent?

The accent marks the yo form sé and separates it from se the pronoun.

Saber or conocer?

Saber for facts and skills. Conocer for people and places.

How do I say I know how to drive?

Sé manejar or sé conducir.

How do you pronounce sé?

Like English seh. Keep it short.

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  4. Step 4: Use it in real scenarios

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