In French, “savoir” and “connaître” are two verbs that can be confusing because they are both translated as "to know" in English. However, they are used in different contexts and are not interchangeable.
Usage of “savoir”
The verb savoir is used to express knowing information, knowing how to do something, or knowing by heart. It refers to acquired knowledge or skills.
- Je sais nager. (I know how to swim.)
- Je sais que la terre est ronde. (I know that the Earth is round.)
- Je sais parler français. (I know how to speak French.)
Usage of “connaître”
The verb connaître is used to talk about familiarity with people, places, or things. It suggests direct experience or personal acquaintance.
- Je connais Paris. (I know Paris.)
- Je connais bien cet auteur. (I know this author well.)
- Je connais cette chanson. (I know this song.)
When to use one or the other?
Choosing between savoir and connaître depends on the type of knowledge you want to express. Use savoir to talk about factual knowledge, skills, or know-how. Use connaître to indicate familiarity with people, places, or things.Grammatical construction
Connaître is generally followed directly by a noun, while savoir is often used with a relative pronoun followed by a subordinate clause.- Connaître + noun: Je connais ton nom. (I know your name.)
- Savoir + relative pronoun + subordinate clause: Je sais comment tu t'appelles. (I know what your name is.)
- Je connais ton adresse. ➡️ Je sais où tu habites. (I know your address. ➡️ I know where you live.)
- Je connais leur nationalité. ➡️ Je sais quelle est leur nationalité. (I know their nationality. ➡️ I know what their nationality is.)
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