conocieron
“conocieron” means “they met” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
they met, you (plural, formal) met
Also: they got to know
📝 In Action
Ellos se conocieron en la universidad hace diez años.
A1They met at the university ten years ago.
¿Cuándo conocieron a tu jefe nuevo?
A2When did they meet your new boss?
Ustedes conocieron el peligro justo a tiempo.
B1You (formal plural) recognized the danger just in time.
they found out
Also: they learned about, they visited
📝 In Action
Ellos conocieron la verdad ayer, y se sorprendieron.
A2They found out the truth yesterday, and they were surprised.
Cuando viajaron a Asia, conocieron una cultura totalmente diferente.
B1When they traveled to Asia, they experienced a totally different culture.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: conocieron
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'conocieron' to mean 'they met for the first time'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb *cognoscere*, meaning 'to know' or 'to get acquainted with.' This root is also the source of the English word 'cognition.'
First recorded: 10th century (in Old Spanish forms)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'conocieron' and 'conocían'?
'Conocieron' (simple past) describes a single, completed event in the past, like 'they met' or 'they found out.' 'Conocían' (descriptive past) describes an ongoing state in the past, like 'they knew' or 'they were familiar with.'
Who does 'conocieron' refer to?
It is the form used for 'ellos' (they, masculine or mixed group), 'ellas' (they, feminine), or 'ustedes' (you, plural/formal).