saber
/sa-ber/
to know
The primary meaning of saber is to know a fact, piece of information, or data.
saber(Verb)
to know
?a fact, information, a piece of data
to find out
?especially in the preterite tense (e.g., 'supe')
📝 In Action
No sé tu número de teléfono.
A1I don't know your phone number.
¿Sabes qué hora es?
A1Do you know what time it is?
Ayer supe que te mudas.
A2Yesterday I found out that you are moving.
💡 Grammar Points
Saber vs. Conocer
This is a big one! Use 'saber' for facts, data, and information. Use 'conocer' when you're talking about being familiar with a person, place, or thing. Think: 'saber' for your brain, 'conocer' for your experiences.
A Special 'Yo' Form
Watch out for the present tense! While most forms are regular (sabes, sabe), the 'yo' form is special: 'sé'. It's just one of those you have to memorize.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Knowing People
Mistake: "Using 'saber' when you mean you know a person. For example: *Yo sé a María.*"
Correction: Always use 'conocer' for people: 'Yo conozco a María.' You *know of* her (conocer), you don't *know the fact of* her (saber).
⭐ Usage Tips
'Knew' vs. 'Found Out' in the Past
The past tense of 'saber' changes its meaning. Use 'sabía' (imperfect) to say you already knew something over a period of time. Use 'supe' (preterite) to say you found something out at a specific moment.
Saber is used to express knowing how to perform a skill or ability, such as knowing how to swim.
saber(Verb)
to know how to
?an ability or skill
can
?implying the learned ability to do something
📝 In Action
Mi abuela sabe tejer muy bien.
A2My grandmother knows how to knit very well.
¿Sabes hablar francés?
A2Do you know how to speak French?
Él no sabe nadar.
A2He can't swim (doesn't know how).
💡 Grammar Points
Saber + Action
To say you know how to do something, it's simple: just put 'saber' in front of the basic form of the action verb (the infinitive). For example, 'saber' + 'cocinar' = to know how to cook.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Adding 'Cómo'
Mistake: "English speakers often translate 'how to' directly and say: *Yo sé cómo nadar.*"
Correction: In Spanish, 'saber' already includes the idea of 'how to'. Just say: 'Yo sé nadar.' You don't need 'cómo' (how).
When referring to food or drink, saber a means to taste of or like something.
📝 In Action
Esta sopa sabe a ajo.
B1This soup tastes like garlic.
El café sabe amargo.
B1The coffee tastes bitter.
¡Qué bien sabe esta paella!
B2This paella tastes so good!
💡 Grammar Points
The Taste Formula
To describe what something tastes like, use the formula: [The food] + 'saber' + 'a' + [the flavor]. For example: 'El pollo sabe a limón' (The chicken tastes like lemon).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting 'a'
Mistake: "It's easy to forget the little word 'a' after 'saber'. For example: *La fruta sabe fresa.*"
Correction: Remember to always include 'a' when naming the flavor: 'La fruta sabe a fresa.'
⭐ Usage Tips
Figurative Tastes
Just like in English, you can use this meaning figuratively. For example, 'La victoria sabe dulce' means 'Victory tastes sweet.'
As a noun, el saber refers to profound, accumulated knowledge, learning, or wisdom.
📝 In Action
El saber no ocupa lugar.
B2Knowledge takes up no space. (A common proverb)
Es un hombre de mucho saber.
C1He is a man of great knowledge.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: saber
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'saber'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the simplest way to remember the difference between 'saber' and 'conocer'?
Think of it this way: Use 'saber' for things you could write down on a test (facts, information) or skills you can perform (how to swim). Use 'conocer' for people, places, or things you have personal experience with. You 'saber' a phone number, but you 'conocer' New York City.
Why does 'supe' mean 'I found out' but 'sabía' means 'I knew'?
It's about how Spanish views time. The preterite tense ('supe') describes a completed action at a specific point. The 'action' of learning a fact is finding it out. The imperfect tense ('sabía') describes an ongoing state in the past. Possessing knowledge was an ongoing state, so it uses the imperfect.