conoció
/ko-no-SIO/
met
The image shows two people meeting for the first time.
conoció(verb)
met
?to meet someone for the first time
,got to know
?to start a relationship or acquaintance
made the acquaintance of
?formal introduction
📝 In Action
Ella conoció a su mejor amiga en la universidad.
A2She met her best friend at the university.
Usted conoció la verdad después de la reunión.
B1You (formal) found out the truth after the meeting.
Él conoció el trabajo cuando era joven.
B2He became familiar with the work when he was young.
💡 Grammar Points
Preterite vs. Imperfect
This form ('conoció') uses the simple past (preterite), meaning the action of meeting or discovering happened suddenly and was completed. If you use 'conocía' (imperfect), it means 'he/she already knew' or 'was familiar with' over a period of time.
The 'Personal A'
When 'conoció' refers to meeting a person, you must use the little word 'a' right before the person's name or title: 'Conoció a Juan' (He met Juan).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Saber' for People
Mistake: "Él supo a María."
Correction: Él conoció a María. Remember: *Saber* is for facts and skills (e.g., 'He knew the answer'), *conocer* is for people, places, and familiarity (e.g., 'He knew the city').
⭐ Usage Tips
Meeting vs. Knowing
Think of 'conoció' as the start button for familiarity. If you want to say 'He knew her for ten years,' you must use the imperfect: 'La conocía por diez años'.
This person experienced a beautiful natural event.
conoció(verb)
experienced
?referring to a time or event
,was subjected to
?referring to a difficult situation
witnessed
?observing a major change
📝 In Action
El país conoció una grave crisis económica el año pasado.
B2The country experienced a severe economic crisis last year.
La región conoció un auge de creatividad artística.
C1The region witnessed a boom in artistic creativity.
💡 Grammar Points
Subject Usage
In this formal usage, the subject is usually an inanimate object or concept, such as 'la ciudad' (the city), 'la industria' (the industry), or 'la época' (the era).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: conoció
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'conoció' (met) instead of 'conocía' (knew)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'conoció' and 'supo'?
'Conoció' (from *conocer*) means 'met' a person or 'discovered' a place. 'Supo' (from *saber*) means 'found out' a piece of information or a fact. For example, 'Él conoció al doctor' (He met the doctor) vs. 'Él supo la noticia' (He found out the news).
If I want to say 'He knew her (for a long time),' should I use 'conoció'?
No. Use the imperfect tense: 'Él la conocía.' 'Conoció' specifically refers to the moment he *started* knowing her (the meeting). 'Conocía' refers to the ongoing state of knowing.