conocía
“conocía” means “I knew” in Spanish (past familiarity with a person or place).
I knew, he/she/it knew, you knew (formal singular)
Also: was familiar with, used to know
📝 In Action
Yo no conocía a nadie en la fiesta.
A2I didn't know anyone at the party.
Ella conocía muy bien las calles de Madrid.
A2She knew the streets of Madrid very well.
Antes, usted conocía ese restaurante.
B1Before, you (formal) knew that restaurant.
La máquina era vieja y no se conocía su origen.
B2The machine was old and its origin was not known.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: conocía
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'conocía' to describe a past state?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb *cognōscere*, meaning 'to know' or 'to become acquainted with.' It shares a root with the English word 'cognition.'
First recorded: Old Spanish, dating back to the 13th century.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'conocía' mean 'I met' or 'I knew'?
It means 'I knew' or 'I was familiar with.' The imperfect tense describes an ongoing state in the past. If you want to say 'I met' (a single event), you must use the preterite: 'conocí'.
Why is it important to learn the difference between 'conocía' and 'sabía'?
Both mean 'I knew' in the past, but they are used for different types of knowledge: 'Conocía' is for people, places, and things you are familiar with; 'Sabía' is for facts, information, and skills.