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sabés

sah-BESS/saˈβes/

“sabés” means “you know” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

you know

Also: you understand
VerbA1irregular (does not follow the standard pattern) erinformal
ArgentinaUruguay
A person pointing with one finger to a specific spot on a colorful world globe with a confident smile.
gerundsabiendo (knowing)
past Participlesabido (known)
infinitivesaber (to know)

📝 In Action

¿Sabés dónde está la parada del autobús?

A1

Do you know where the bus stop is?

Vos sabés que tengo razón.

A1

You know that I'm right.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • ya sabés – you already know / you know the drill
  • viste como es, ¿sabés? – you know how it is, right?

Idioms & Expressions

  • ¿Sabés qué? – Used to introduce a new idea or surprise

you know how to

VerbA2irregular erinformal
A person riding a red bicycle confidently on a path without training wheels.

📝 In Action

¿Sabés cocinar empanadas?

A2

Do you know how to cook empanadas?

Vos sabés manejar muy bien.

A2

You know how to drive very well.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • saber de – to know about (a subject)

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedessupieran
yosupiera
túsupieras
vosotrossupierais
nosotrossupiéramos
él/ella/ustedsupiera

present

ellos/ellas/ustedessepan
yosepa
túsepas
vosotrossepáis
nosotrossepamos
él/ella/ustedsepa

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedessupieron
yosupe
túsupiste
vosotrossupisteis
nosotrossupimos
él/ella/ustedsupo

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedessabían
yosabía
túsabías
vosotrossabíais
nosotrossabíamos
él/ella/ustedsabía

present

ellos/ellas/ustedessaben
yosé
túsabés (used with 'vos')
vosotrossabéis
nosotrossabemos
él/ella/ustedsabe
View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: sabés

Question 1 of 1

If you are in Buenos Aires and want to ask someone if they know the way, which would you say?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
sabiduría(wisdom) — Noun
sabio(wise) — Adjective
sabiondo(know-it-all) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
estésfrancésvez
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'sapere', which originally meant 'to taste'. Over time, it shifted to mean 'to have good taste' or 'to be wise', and eventually 'to know'.

First recorded: 12th century

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: sapereFrench: savoir

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'sabes' and 'sabés'?

The only difference is regional! 'Sabes' is used with 'tú' (common in Mexico, Spain, etc.), while 'sabés' is used with 'vos' (common in Argentina, Uruguay, and parts of Central America).