Words are weird.
And rarely is that more apparent than when you're learning another language.
I mean, before I started learning Spanish, I didn't notice it much.
I wasn't focusing on it, I guess?
But then I soon learned that the word "hacer" means both "to make" and "to do".
Okay, no biggie.
Every time we'd say "make" or "do" we just have to say "hacer" instead.
But it sucks to be a Spanish speaker.
When they would normally just say "hacer" now they have to pick between "make" or "do".
If you hang out with a Spanish speaker learning English, you'll often hear them making cute
mistakes.
"Did you make the laundry?"
But what goes around comes around.
In Spanish, they have two different words for "to know"--"saber" and "conocer".
And these words are not interchangeable.
They'll know what you're saying usually if you get it wrong, but you'll definitely be
wrong.
In this video, I'm not only going to tell you all about "saber" and "conocer"--I'm going
to give you a trick you can use in the future whenever you encounter a similar situation.
Hola, soy Jordan and this is a Spanish Quickie.
Fast, easy Spanish lessons from somebody who speaks your language.
Okay, "saber" means "to know" and "conocer" means "to know".
That you know.
I'm such a dork.
If you Googled it or looked in a typical Spanish book, you'd see a bunch of rules about when
to use which word.
But instead of memorizing a bunch of rules, it's easier, and better, and less stressful,
and just more fun, to sit back, relax, take a deep breath and think about the words for
a minute.
I mean, it's kind of weird, no, one word can mean two different things?
Like, I "run" on a track.
I "run" for president.
That's weird.
The meaning of the words have nothing to do with each other.
Do they?
But the words are exactly the same.
But then there's "to know".
It's not as glaring as "run" but "know" is used two different ways too.
"I know the answer."
"I know Tom."
We've been using "know" both ways for so long, at first, to me at least, it seemed like it
was just one word.
But look at another example.
"I know math."
"I know Madrid."
Those are two different words!
"I know math"--I can do the steps on a piece of paper in front of you.
They're facts.
"The answer"--I can write it down for you.
It's a fact too.
But "Madrid"?
"Tom?"
I can't write them down for you.
They aren't facts.
When I "know math" and when I "know the answer", I "know facts".
When I "know Madrid" or "know Tom"--"I'm familiar with them".
See what's going on here?
Now I tell you, the word "to know" in English has two meanings in Spanish, "saber" and "conocer".
"Saber" is used to "know facts" and "conocer" is used "to be familiar with"--we just normally
say "know" for "to be familiar with".
Pretty cool, no?
Words really are fun.
So whenever this comes, up, whenever there's a word in English that has two Spanish meanings,
instead of stressing out about a bunch of rules, think about how the English word might
have two, distinct meanings, even though it seems like one at first--that's just because
we're used to it.
Now, when you think about it as two different words, it's not hard to choose the right one.
But there's one more thing.
Both "saber" and "conocer" are irregular verbs.
Since both are so common, it really is a good use of your time to learn them both.
But both are really easy, just one change each.
"Saber" conjugates like this.
Notice the only irregularity is the first person singular here.
Remember normally, for an ER verb, you'd knock off the ER and add an O.
But with "saber" it's just "sé".
So "yo sé" is "I know".
"No sé" is "I don't know".
Be careful, we haven't covered it yet, but there's a word out there "se"--without the
accent.
Don't worry about it now, we'll get to that in due time.
Just know that it's a different word.
"Sé" with the accent is "I know.
"Se" without the accent is something else--it means a few different things.
With "saber", all the other spots are the same.
"Sabes", "sabe", "sabemos", etc.
Moving on to "conocer".
The irregularity is just in the first person singular spot here too.
Instead of just knocking off the ER, you're going to knock off the C also, then add ZCO.
So "conozco".
Then every other spot is the same.
"Conoces", "conoce", "conocemos"...
And that's it.
In summary.
"Saber" means "to know", as in "to know facts" and looks like this.
"I know" is "yo sé".
"Conocer" means "to know" as in "to be familiar with" and looks like this.
"I know" is "yo conozco".
Right now I want you to do two things.
Pop on over to gringoespanol.com/quickies/saber-conocer.
That link is also below this video.
First, download a blank Conjugation Sheet and practice the conjugations of "saber" and
"conocer" using The Conjugation Strategy.
If you already know regular ER conjugations, this should take you a matter of minutes.
Then download the Practice Sheet where you'll get to practice choosing between "saber" and
"conocer".
The Answer Keys to both are also available at that link which is below this video.
A huge shout out and thank you to Agi Raborn--surely I messed that pronunciation up, please forgive
me.
Agi requested a video on "saber" and "conocer" and that's why I made this today.
I had something else scheduled originally, but I loved the request.
Just so you know.
If you liked this video, please press LIKE or the big thumbs up cause it makes me feel
good.
No for real.
It makes me feel good.
Press LIKE or the big thumbs up.
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I'll see you next time.
Hasta luego.
Adiós amigo.