sabido
/sah-BEE-doh/
known
When something is sabido, it is known by everyone, like public knowledge or a widely circulated announcement.
sabido(Adjective)
known
?as in, public knowledge
,cunning
?shrewd, often negative connotation
well-known
?generally recognized
,shrewd
?clever in a calculating way
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Agreement
As an adjective, 'sabido' must match the thing it describes in both gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural): sabido (m. sing.), sabida (f. sing.), sabidos (m. plural), sabidas (f. plural).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'Known' Meanings
Mistake: "Using 'sabido' to mean 'a person I know well' (e.g., *un amigo sabido*)."
Correction: Use 'conocido' for 'acquaintance' or 'familiar person.' 'Sabido' usually refers to facts or shrewd character traits.
⭐ Usage Tips
Connotation Check
When referring to a person, 'ser sabido' often carries a connotation of being too clever, manipulative, or overly street-smart. Use 'inteligente' for a purely positive description of wisdom.
As the past participle of 'saber' (to know), sabido means 'known,' referring to knowledge that has been successfully acquired or understood.
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Building Perfect Tenses
The past participle 'sabido' is always paired with a form of the helping verb 'haber' (to have) to create compound tenses like the present perfect ('he sabido').
The 'Invariable' Rule
When used with 'haber' to build a perfect tense (e.g., han sabido), the participle sabido never changes its ending—it stays masculine and singular, regardless of who is doing the knowing.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Verb/Adjective Form
Mistake: "Using the adjective form when forming a perfect tense: *Hemos sabidas las noticias.*"
Correction: When paired with 'haber,' the participle does not agree: *Hemos sabido las noticias* (We have known the news).
⭐ Usage Tips
Finding Out vs. Knowing
In compound tenses, 'saber' (and thus 'sabido') often takes on the meaning 'to find out' or 'to learn' about something (e.g., 'He sabido la verdad' means 'I have found out the truth').
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: sabido
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'sabido' as an adjective meaning 'cunning' or 'shrewd'?
📚 More Resources
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.