Spanish · Everyday Verbs
"to know (a person or place)" in Spanish: conocer
conocer
To know a person or place in Spanish is conocer. The yo form is conozco. Use conocer for people, cities, and being familiar with something.
Talking about friends
Conozco a tu hermano de la clase.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce conocer
Say it
koh-noh-SEHR / koh-NOHS-koh
/ko.no.ˈseɾ/
Conocer is koh-noh-SEHR. Conozco is koh-NOHS-koh. Soft c/s sound in Latin America.
"to know (a person or place)" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| conocer | to know / to meet (person or place) Dictionary form. | Dictionary form. |
| conozco | I know / I meet Irregular yo present. | Irregular yo present. |
| conoces / conoce | you know / he-she knows People and places. | People and places. |
| conocemos / conocen | we know / they know Plural forms. | Plural forms. |
| conocer a | to know/meet someone Personal a before people. | Personal a before people. |
How to use conocer in real life
- 1Talking about friends
Conozco a tu hermano de la clase.
I know your brother from class.
Conozco a marks a person.
- 2Travel talk
¿Conoces Bogotá?
Do you know Bogotá? / Have you been to Bogotá?
Conoces works for cities.
- 3First introductions
Queremos conocer mejor el barrio.
We want to get to know the neighborhood better.
Conocer stays infinitive after queremos.
Mistakes English speakers make with conocer
Incorrect: Yo conoco a Ana.
Correct: Yo conozco a Ana.
The yo form is conozco with zc.
Incorrect: Conozco la respuesta del examen.
Correct: Sé la respuesta del examen.
Facts use saber, not conocer.
Good to know
Conocer can mean know or meet depending on tense and context. In Latin America, ¿Conoces esta ciudad? often asks if you have been there.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Talking about people at a party
ChatPal
¿Conoces a Diego?
Do you know Diego?
You
Sí. Lo conozco del gimnasio.
Yes. I know him from the gym.
ChatPal
Genial. Yo conozco a su hermana también.
Great. I know his sister too.
You
Quiero conocer a más gente hoy.
I want to meet more people today.
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 Spanish
Why conozco with zc?
Verbs like conocer change c→zc in the yo form.
Do I need a before names?
Yes: conozco a María.
Conocer or saber?
Conocer for people and places. Saber for facts and skills.
How do you pronounce conozco?
koh-NOHS-koh. Stress on NOHS.
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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