Savoir and Connaître
February 23, 2011 § Leave a comment
Both ‘savoir’ and ‘connaître’ mean ‘to know’.
Savoir means to know information. One can savoir how to ride a bicycle or savoir the information that is going to be on a test. One can savoir where is the post office. It’s all about information with this verb.
Connaître means to know a person or to be acquainted with. One can connaître a restaurant or a place, which would mean that one is familiar with the restaurant or place. One can connaître a book, which would mean that one is familiar with the book. One always connaîtres people – it expresses a familiarity.
Savoir – to know information
| je sais | nous savons |
| tu sais | vous savez |
| il sait | ils savent |
Connaître – to be acquainted with
| je connais | nous connaissons |
| tu connais | vous connaissez |
| il connaît | ils connaissent |
Je sais jouer du piano – I know how to play the piano
Elle sait la réponse – She knows the answer
Tu connais mon frère? – You know my brother?
Je connais bien ce café – I know this café well
French Notes 
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