Inklingo

conocen

koh-NOH-sen/koˈno.sen/

conocen means they know in Spanish (meaning they are familiar with a person, place, or thing).

they know, you all know

Also: they are acquainted with, they meet
VerbA1irregular er
Spain
Two smiling children stand happily beside a familiar brown dog, gently petting its head, illustrating that they are acquainted with the animal.
infinitiveconocer
gerundconociendo
past Participleconocido

📝 In Action

Ellos conocen bien la ciudad de Madrid.

A1

They know the city of Madrid well.

Mis padres no conocen a mi nuevo jefe.

A2

My parents don't know my new boss.

¿Ustedes conocen el camino a la playa?

A2

Do you all know the way to the beach?

Las personas que conocen la verdad no hablan.

B1

The people who know the truth are not talking.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • saben (they know (facts/skills))
  • identifican (they identify)

Antonyms

  • ignoran (they ignore)
  • desconocen (they are unfamiliar with)

Common Collocations

  • conocen el áreathey know the area
  • conocen la historiathey are familiar with the history

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedconoce
yoconozco
conoces
ellos/ellas/ustedesconocen
nosotrosconocemos
vosotrosconocéis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedconocía
yoconocía
conocías
ellos/ellas/ustedesconocían
nosotrosconocíamos
vosotrosconocíais

preterite

él/ella/ustedconoció
yoconocí
conociste
ellos/ellas/ustedesconocieron
nosotrosconocimos
vosotrosconocisteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedconozca
yoconozca
conozcas
ellos/ellas/ustedesconozcan
nosotrosconozcamos
vosotrosconozcáis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedconociera
yoconociera
conocieras
ellos/ellas/ustedesconocieran
nosotrosconociéramos
vosotrosconocierais

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "conocen" in Spanish:

they meet

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: conocen

Question 1 of 2

Which English sentence is the best translation for: 'Mis tíos conocen bien la zona.'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
🎵 Rhymes
crecenofrecen
📚 Etymology

The verb *conocer* comes from the Latin verb *cognōscere*, which means 'to know' or 'to get to know.' This root emphasized direct experience and recognition, which is why Spanish uses it for being familiar with places and people.

First recorded: 10th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: conhecemFrench: connaissent

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the 'yo' form of conocer (conozco) have a 'z' but 'conocen' doesn't?

This is a common irregularity in Spanish verbs ending in -cer or -cir. The 'z' is added only in the 'yo' form of the present tense (conozco) and throughout the subjunctive mood (conozca, conozcan) to keep a consistent 's' sound that was historically present in the verb's root.

How do I say 'You all know' if I'm speaking to friends in Spain?

In informal situations in Spain, you should use the 'vosotros' form: 'conocéis'. 'Conocen' is reserved for formal 'ustedes' or for Latin America.