conocido
“conocido” means “well-known” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
well-known
Also: known, famous
📝 In Action
Es un actor muy conocido.
A2He's a very well-known actor.
La paella es un plato conocido en todo el mundo.
B1Paella is a dish known throughout the world.
Este es un hecho bien conocido por los científicos.
B2This is a fact well known by scientists.
acquaintance
Also: contact
📝 In Action
No es mi amigo, es solo un conocido.
B1He's not my friend, just an acquaintance.
Tengo muchos conocidos en la industria de la música.
B2I have many acquaintances/contacts in the music industry.
Me encontré con una vieja conocida en el supermercado.
B1I ran into an old (female) acquaintance at the supermarket.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: conocido
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'conocido' to mean 'acquaintance'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from 'conocido', the past participle of the verb 'conocer'. This verb itself traces back to the Latin word 'cognōscere', which meant 'to get to know' or 'to become acquainted with'.
First recorded: Around the 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'conocido' and 'famoso'?
'Famoso' specifically means 'famous,' like a celebrity known by millions. 'Conocido' is broader; it can mean famous, but it often just means 'well-known' in a smaller circle (like 'the best-known restaurant in town') or simply 'familiar' ('a known fact'). Everyone who is 'famoso' is also 'conocido', but not everyone who is 'conocido' is 'famoso'.
Is 'conocido' the past tense of 'conocer'?
Not exactly. 'Conocido' is the *past participle*. You use it with helper verbs like 'haber' to form tenses that talk about completed actions (e.g., 'He conocido a mucha gente' - I have met many people). You also use it on its own as a describing word (adjective) for 'known' or 'well-known'.