sabe
/SAH-beh/
Just like a lightbulb turning on, 'sabe' means someone knows a piece of information or has an idea.
sabe (Verb)
📝 In Action
Él sabe la capital de Francia.
A1He knows the capital of France.
Mi hermana sabe hablar tres idiomas.
A2My sister knows how to speak three languages.
¿Usted sabe dónde está la estación?
A1Do you (formal) know where the station is?
💡 Grammar Points
Saber vs. Conocer
'Saber' is for facts, information, and skills (like how to swim). Use 'conocer' when you're talking about being familiar with a person, place, or thing.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'saber' for people
Mistake: "Yo sabo a María."
Correction: Yo conozco a María. 'Conocer' is used for people, while 'saber' is for facts.
⭐ Usage Tips
Knowing How To...
To say you 'know how to' do something, just use 'saber' followed by the action verb. For example, 'sabe nadar' means 'he/she knows how to swim'. You don't need an extra word for 'how to'.
This soup 'sabe a limón' - it tastes like lemon. 'Sabe' can also describe the flavor of something.
sabe (Verb)
📝 In Action
Este pastel sabe a limón.
A2This cake tastes like lemon.
La carne no sabe a nada.
B1The meat doesn't taste like anything.
¡Qué rico sabe esto!
B1This tastes so good!
💡 Grammar Points
Always use 'saber a'
When describing what something tastes like, always follow 'saber' with the little word 'a'. For example, 'sabe a chocolate' (it tastes like chocolate).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the 'a'
Mistake: "La sopa sabe pollo."
Correction: La sopa sabe a pollo. You need the 'a' to connect the verb 'sabe' to the flavor 'pollo'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing Good/Bad Taste
You can also say something 'sabe bien' (tastes good) or 'sabe mal' (tastes bad). Notice you don't use 'a' in this case.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: sabe
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'sabe' to talk about a flavor?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'sabe' and 'conoce'?
Think of it this way: 'sabe' is for information you can learn from a book (facts, data, skills like swimming). 'Conoce' is for familiarity you get from experience (knowing a person, being familiar with a city, having seen a movie).
I've heard people say '¿sabes?'. Is that related to 'sabe'?
Yes! 'Sabes' is the 'tú' (you, informal) form of the same verb, 'saber'. People often add it to the end of sentences, like saying 'you know?' in English, to check if the other person is following along.
Why is the 'yo' form 'sé' and not 'sabo'?
Good question! 'Saber' is an irregular verb, which means its forms don't always follow the standard pattern. The 'yo' form in the present tense is one of its special changes, so it's 'sé'. You just have to memorize that one!