Inklingo

How to Say "they meet" in Spanish

English → Spanish

conocen

/koh-NOH-sen//koˈno.sen/

verbA1general
Use 'conocen' when 'they meet' implies getting acquainted with someone for the first time or knowing a place or thing.
Two smiling children stand happily beside a familiar brown dog, gently petting its head, illustrating that they are acquainted with the animal.

Examples

Ellos conocen a María desde la universidad.

They have known Maria since university.

Ellos conocen bien la ciudad de Madrid.

They know the city of Madrid well.

Mis padres no conocen a mi nuevo jefe.

My parents don't know my new boss.

¿Ustedes conocen el camino a la playa?

Do you all know the way to the beach?

Who Does the Action?

"Conocen" is always used when the people doing the knowing are 'ellos' (they, masculine/mixed group), 'ellas' (they, feminine), or 'ustedes' (you all, formal or common in Latin America).

Use the 'a' for People

When 'conocen' is followed by a person or pet, you must insert the little word 'a': 'Ellos conocen a mi hermana' (They know my sister).

Conocer vs. Saber

Mistake: “Using 'saben' when talking about familiarity with a person or place (e.g., *Ellos saben a María*).”

Correction: Use 'conocen' for people, places, or being acquainted with something. Use 'saben' only for facts, information, or skills. Correct: 'Ellos conocen a María'.

verbA2general
Use 'encuentran' when 'they meet' means to find something or someone, or to come together at a specific location.

Examples

Ellos se encuentran en el parque a las tres.

They meet in the park at three.

Conocer vs. Encontrar

The most common mistake is using 'conocer' when you mean to find or locate something or someone. Remember, 'conocer' is for initial introductions or familiarity, while 'encontrar' is for the act of finding or coming across.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.