conoce
“conoce” means “he knows / she knows” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
he knows / she knows, you know
Also: he/she meets, he/she recognizes
📝 In Action
Mi hermana conoce a tu primo.
A1My sister knows your cousin.
Él conoce muy bien la ciudad de México.
A1He knows Mexico City very well.
Usted conoce el camino, ¿verdad?
A2You know the way, right? (formal)
Ella conoce el peligro de la situación.
B1She is aware of the danger of the situation.
get to know, meet
Also: explore
📝 In Action
¡Viaja más! Conoce el mundo.
A2Travel more! Get to know the world.
Conoce a mis padres, te van a caer muy bien.
B1Meet my parents, you're going to like them a lot.
Primero, conoce bien las reglas del juego.
B1First, get to know the rules of the game well.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: conoce
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'conoce' correctly?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb 'cognōscere', which meant 'to get to know, to become acquainted with, to recognize'. It's built from 'co-' (together) and 'gnōscere' (to know).
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the absolute main difference between 'conoce' and 'sabe'?
The simplest way to remember is: 'conoce' is for familiarity (people, places, art), and 'sabe' is for facts and skills (information, how to do things). If you can be 'acquainted with' it, use 'conoce'. If you can learn it from a book, use 'sabe'.
Why is it 'conoce a Juan' but just 'conoce Madrid'?
Spanish has a special rule called the 'personal a'. When a person is the one receiving the action of the verb (like being known), you have to put 'a' in front of them. This rule doesn't apply to places or objects, so Madrid doesn't need the 'a'.
If 'conoce' is 'he knows', how do I say 'I know'?
The 'I' form of 'conocer' is irregular. You say 'Yo conozco'. For example, 'Yo conozco a tu hermano' (I know your brother).