Saber vs Conocer

Saber is for facts and skills: what you can state or do. Conocer is for familiarity: the people, places, and subjects you have met or been to.

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Full guides to saber and conocer

saber

Usage

Knowledge and learned information:

Knowing facts/information (Sé la respuesta - I know the answer)
Knowing how to do something (Sabemos cocinar - We know how to cook)
Finding out information (Supe la verdad - I found out the truth)
Phrases with "que" (Sé que llegaste - I know you arrived)

Key Differences from Conocer

Used for factual knowledge
Refers to skills/abilities
Used with interrogatives (quién, qué, dónde)
Implies certainty

conocer

Usage

Familiarity and personal experience:

Knowing people (Conozco a María - I know María)
Being familiar with places (Conocemos Madrid - We know Madrid)
Understanding concepts (Conocen la teoría - They understand the theory)
Meeting someone (Conocí a su jefe - I met their boss)

Key Differences from Saber

Used for personal acquaintance
Refers to familiarity
Implies direct experience
Used with "a" for people

Where the choice changes the meaning

Context	saber	conocer
People	Not used with a person as its object.	Conozco a María — takes the personal a.
Places	Sé dónde está — you know the fact.	Conozco Madrid — you have been there.
Facts	Sé que llegaste — introduces a clause with que.	Not used.
Skills	Sabemos cocinar — saber plus an infinitive.	Not used.
In the preterite	Supe la verdad — I found out.	Conocí a su jefe — I met.