sabido
“sabido” means “known” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
known, cunning
Also: well-known, shrewd
📝 In Action
Ese es un hecho muy sabido por todos en la oficina.
B1That is a very well-known fact by everyone in the office.
Dicen que el nuevo jefe es muy sabido y no se le escapa nada.
B2They say the new boss is very cunning, and nothing gets past him.
La respuesta ya era sabida por la audiencia.
B1The answer was already known by the audience.
known
📝 In Action
Yo no he sabido qué hacer con ese problema.
A2I have not known what to do with that problem.
Si lo hubieras sabido antes, ¿habrías actuado diferente?
B2If you had known it sooner, would you have acted differently?
Hemos sabido que la fiesta se canceló.
A2We have found out that the party was canceled.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: sabido
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'sabido' as an adjective meaning 'cunning' or 'shrewd'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb *sapere*, which originally meant 'to taste' or 'to discern by taste,' but later evolved to mean 'to be wise' or 'to know.'
First recorded: Around the 10th-12th century in Old Spanish.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'ser sabido' and 'haber sabido'?
'Ser sabido' (e.g., 'El es sabido') uses the word as an adjective, meaning 'He is cunning' or 'He is well-known.' 'Haber sabido' (e.g., 'Él ha sabido') uses the word as part of a verb tense, meaning 'He has known' or 'He has found out.'
Why does 'sabido' sometimes sound negative?
When 'sabido' describes a person, it means they are overly shrewd or street-smart—they know too much or use their intelligence primarily for their own gain. It suggests cleverness mixed with a lack of openness or sincerity.