Language/French/Vocabulary/To-Know

Dear French learners,

Welcome to this French lesson! 🇫🇷

It is sometimes difficult for foreigners to know when to use the two French verbs "Savoir" and "Connaître". In English, for example, these two verbs both mean "To know." For instance, "Connaissez-vous cette personne?" translates to "Do you know this person?" and "Savez-vous ce qu'il est possible de faire?" means "Do you know what we can do?"

Basically, "savoir" is to know something or know how to do something, while "connaître" is to be familiar or acquainted with someone or something (or someplace). So, for example, you could say "je connais New York" (I'm familiar with NY) versus "je sais que New York est une grande ville" (I know NY is a big city). The first has to do with personal familiarity, while the second is a fact you know.

In this article, we will teach you in which situations to use these two verbs. After mastering this lesson, you might also be interested in exploring other related topics, such as French Vocabulary about School and Studies, French Vocabulary - Martial Arts, and Resources to further expand your French vocabulary.

Bonne chance et amusez-vous bien ! 🎉

Savoir

To know how to do something

In French, to say "I know how to do something", you use "je sais" + verb infinitive.

To know who, what or where

• Je ne sais pas ce que tu veux dire = I don’t know what you want to say
• Il sais où je suis = He knows where I am
• Elle sait où le park se trouve = She knows where the park is located
• Je sais d'où il vient = I know where he comes from

Useful expressions

Je n'en sais rien

It means "I have no idea".

Tu sais quoi ?

This is a familiar expression meaning “you know what?”. Tu sais quoi ? J’en ai marre ! = You know what? I’m fed up with it!

Qui sait

It means "who knows?".

• Il y est déjà peut être allé, qui sait ? = Maybe, he has already been there, who knows?

Un je ne sais quoi

This expression is used to say “I don’t know what”.

• Elle avait un certain je ne sais quoi qui m'a tout de suite plu = She had a certain “I don’t know what” I liked right away

Connaître

Know someone or something personally

The meaning of “connaître” is closer to "be familiar with” or "know someone or something personally".

Examples:

• Tu connais ce bar ? = Are you familiar with this bar?
• Est-ce que vous connaissez le prix des loyers à Marseille ? = Do you know the rents in Marseille?

Useful expressions

Connaître la musique

This expression means that you are used to something because you've already experienced it many times.

• Merci, ne m'en parle pas, je connais la musique = Don't tell me, I know!

Connaître sur le bout des doigts

it means you know it perfectly, "like the back of your hand"

• Tu es prêt pour le test ? Oui je connais le sujet sur le bout des doigts = Are you ready for the test? Yes, I know the topic like the back of my hand.

Connaître par coeur

It means “to know something by heart”.

• Je connais ma leçon par coeur = I know my lesson by heart

At last, if you have a question about the difference between "savoir" and "connaître", post it here !

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