Connaître Vs. Savoir
Both are translated by “to know” which can be very confusing.
Connaître
To be aware of the existence of something, of its value. Can also be used to speak about people, places, the experience of something/its deep knowledge. The etymology in Latin is “to visit, to see each other, to get to know”. A good tip could be to remember that in Connaître, there is “naître” (to be born, to start). This way you can remember the link to people and starting something.
- I know my neighbors : Je connais mes voisins (You got to know them)
- I know the Louvre : Je connais le Louvre (you visited the Louvre)
- I know South America : Je connais l’Amérique du Sud (you traveled through South America)
- I know my lesson : Je connais ma leçon
- I know my work : Je connais mon travail.
Connaître is always followed by a noun and can’t never be used before pronouns (qui, que, quoi, comment, etc.)
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Savoir
Savoir is used for things teached, facts, abilities, knowing information, conviction.
- I know how to write : Je sais écrire
- I know how to conjugate a verb : Je sais comment conjuguer un verbe.
- I know how to bake tasty cakes : Je sais cuisiner de bons gâteaux
- I know that you’re going to Italy for summer : Je sais que tu vas en Italie cet été
- I know that you love stargazing : Je sais que tu aimes regarder les étoiles
- I know why you didn’t come to the party : Je sais pourquoi tu n’es pas venu à la soirée
- I know who stole the cake : Je sais qui a volé le gâteau.
- I know it’s you : Je sais que c’est toi.
It’s mostly followed by verbs or subordinate clauses (Thing you can see in English too, the verb “to know” is used differently to translate savoir than connaître!)
When it’s followed by an infitive : It’s about knowledge, how to do something
Je sais écrire > I know how to write
When it’s followed by a subordinate clause : it’s about an information you got and understood/conviction
Je sais que c’est toi : I know/I’m convinced it’s you.
