sé
/seh/
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Yo sé la respuesta.
A1I know the answer.
No sé dónde están mis llaves.
A1I don't know where my keys are.
Sé nadar muy bien.
A2I know how to swim very well.
Sé que es difícil, pero puedes hacerlo.
B1I know it's difficult, but you can do it.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
💡 Grammar Points
The Special 'I' Form of 'Saber'
'Sé' is the special form of 'saber' (to know) that you only use for 'I'. It's very irregular, so you just have to memorize it: 'Yo sé' means 'I know'.
Knowing Facts vs. Knowing People
Use 'sé' for facts, information, or skills (e.g., 'Sé tu nombre' - I know your name). To say you know a person or place, you need a different verb: 'conocer' (e.g., 'Conozco a tu hermano' - I know your brother).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Accent Mark
Mistake: "Yo se la verdad."
Correction: Yo sé la verdad. Without the accent, 'se' is a totally different word. The accent on 'sé' is what tells you it means 'I know'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Your Go-To for 'I Don't Know'
The phrase 'No sé' is one of the most useful things you can learn. It's a perfect and natural way to say 'I don't know' in any situation.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: sé
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'sé' to mean 'I know'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'sé' and 'se'?
The accent mark is everything! 'Sé' with an accent is a verb, meaning either 'I know' (from saber) or 'Be' (a command from ser). 'Se' without an accent is a pronoun, a small word used in many ways, often meaning 'oneself', 'himself', or 'herself'.
Why are there two completely different meanings for 'sé'?
It's a coincidence of language evolution. Two different Latin verbs, 'sapiō' (to know) and 'sedēre' (to sit, which became part of 'to be'), ended up having forms that, after centuries of change, sounded and were spelled exactly the same in modern Spanish. The accent mark helps us tell them apart from the word 'se'.