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How to Say "may know" in Spanish

English → Spanish

sepa

SEH-pah/ˈsepa/

Verb FormB1General
Use 'sepa' when 'may know' refers to knowledge of information, facts, or understanding, often in contexts of hope or uncertainty.
A colorful storybook illustration showing a small child standing at a fork in a winding road. Both paths disappear into a gentle white mist, symbolizing doubt or uncertainty about which way to proceed.

Examples

Espero que mi jefe no sepa que llegué tarde.

I hope my boss doesn't know that I arrived late.

Quiero que sepa la verdad antes de irse.

I want him/her/you (formal) to know the truth before leaving.

Tal vez sepa la respuesta, pero no está seguro.

Maybe he knows the answer, but he isn't sure. (Subjunctive used after 'tal vez' expressing doubt)

When to Use 'sepa'

'Sepa' is the special form (subjunctive) of 'saber' that you must use after words that express doubt, desire, emotion, or when giving a formal negative command.

Irregularity Tip

Most of the special forms (subjunctive) for 'saber' start with 'sep-' (sepa, sepas, sepamos), making them easy to spot once you learn the pattern.

Using the Normal Form Incorrectly

Mistake: “Dudo que él sabe la respuesta.”

Correction: Dudo que él sepa la respuesta. (The word 'dudo' (I doubt) forces the special verb form 'sepa' in the second part of the sentence.)

conozca

koh-NOHS-kah/koˈnoska/

VerbB1General
Use 'conozca' when 'may know' implies familiarity or acquaintance with a person, place, or thing, typically in subjunctive contexts expressing wishes or doubts.
A close-up illustration of a curious child carefully opening a small, wooden treasure chest. A bright, warm light spills out from the contents, suggesting a moment of discovery or potential knowledge.

Examples

Espero que usted conozca a mi familia pronto.

I hope that you (formal) meet my family soon.

Que él conozca la verdad antes de que sea tarde.

Let him know the truth before it's too late.

¡Conozca la historia de la ciudad en este museo!

Get to know (formal command) the city's history in this museum!

The Subjunctive Use

"Conozca" is the special verb form (subjunctive) used when expressing things like desire, doubt, hope, or necessity about the action of knowing or meeting. For example, after phrases like 'Espero que...' (I hope that...).

Formal Command

You use "conozca" when giving a formal command to one person (Usted): '¡Conozca la ciudad!' (Know/explore the city!).

Forgetting the 'Z'

Mistake: “Using *conoca* instead of *conozca*.”

Correction: The verb *conocer* is irregular because the 'c' changes to 'zc' before the 'o' or 'a' vowel in the present tense (conozco) and carries over to the entire subjunctive mood (conozca, conozcas, etc.).

Knowing vs. Being Acquainted

The most common mistake is using 'conozca' when you mean 'sepa.' Remember, 'conocer' is for knowing people or places (acquaintance), while 'saber' is for knowing facts or how to do something. 'May know' usually translates to 'sepa' when it's about information.

Related Translations

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