savoir
"Savoir" means "to know" in the sense of knowing facts, information, or how to do something. It's used for knowledge that can be learned or taught, unlike "connaître" which is used for familiarity with people or places.
Savoir vs Connaître
Savoir is for facts and skills, and it is the only one of the two that can take a clause. Connaître is for familiarity with people, places, and works, and always takes a direct object.
Full guides to savoir and connaître
connaître
"Connaître" means "to know" in the sense of being familiar with or acquainted with people, places, or things. It's distinct from "savoir" which is used for factual knowledge or skills.
Where the choice changes the meaning
| Context | savoir | connaître |
|---|---|---|
| People | Not used with a person as its object. | Je connais Marie. |
| Places | Je sais où c'est — you know the fact. | Je connais Paris — you have been there. |
| Clauses | Je sais qu'il vient — que, si, or a question word. | Never takes a clause. |
| Skills | Elle sait nager — savoir plus an infinitive. | Not used. |
| Works | Not used with a book or a song as its object. | Je connais cette chanson. |
| In the passé composé | J'ai su — I found out. | J'ai connu — I met. |