Language/French/Vocabulary/To-Know

It is sometimes difficult for foreigners to know when to use the 2 French verbs "Savoir" et "Connaître".

In English, for example those 2 verbs both means To know:

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 some place).

So for example, you could say:

• "je connais New York" (I'm familiar with NY)

vs

• "je sais que New York est une grande ville" (I know NY is a big city).

The first has to do with my personal familiarity while the second is a fact I know.

Other examples

• Connaissez-vous cette personne ? = Do you know this person?
• Savez-vous ce qu'il est possible de faire ? = Do you know what we can do?

In this article we will teach you in which situations use those 2 verbs.

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 who 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 !