conocido
/ko-no-SEE-do/
well-known
As an adjective, conocido means well-known or famous, like a widely recognized landmark.
conocido(Adjective)
well-known
?famous or widely recognized
known
?generally, familiar
,famous
?a celebrity or landmark
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Matching the Noun
Like most Spanish describers, 'conocido' changes to match the person or thing it describes. Use 'conocida' for feminine things (la actriz conocida) and add an 's' for plural things (los actores conocidos, las actrices conocidas).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Ser', Not 'Estar'
Mistake: "La ciudad está conocida por su comida."
Correction: La ciudad es conocida por su comida. Use 'ser' (es, son, etc.) with 'conocido' to describe a characteristic or identity, like being famous for something.
⭐ Usage Tips
More Than Just 'Famous'
'Conocido' can mean 'famous' like a movie star, but it's also used for anything that is simply familiar or recognized, like a 'rostro conocido' (a familiar face).
As a noun, un conocido refers to an acquaintance—someone you know casually but who is not a close friend.
conocido(Noun)
acquaintance
?someone you know casually
contact
?a person you know, often in a professional sense
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Male vs. Female Acquaintances
When talking about an acquaintance, the word changes based on their gender. Use 'un conocido' for a man and 'una conocida' for a woman.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Friend vs. Acquaintance
Mistake: "Mi conocido Juan viene a la fiesta."
Correction: Mi amigo Juan viene a la fiesta. Using 'conocido' here sounds a bit distant. In Spanish, it clearly means you don't know the person well, so use 'amigo' for actual friends.
⭐ Usage Tips
Remember the 'Personal A'
When an acquaintance is the one receiving an action, remember to put 'a' in front of them. For example, 'Vi a un conocido en el supermercado' (I saw an acquaintance at the supermarket).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: conocido
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'conocido' to mean 'acquaintance'?
📚 More Resources
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'.