46 Comments
Wouldn't saben be more appropriate? Or is the difference that conocen implies having experienced the consequences vs only knowing of them (in the abstract).
Not really. In this sentence both mean the same thing. It's just that the verb 'conocer' is more used in Mexico and 'saber' in Spain (I think), but either are correct anywhere.
Saber and conocer mean the same most of the time, but either have others meanings. Saber could mean having knowledge but it also means having flavor a food or drink. Conocer also means to have had contact or information about a person or place.
We also use conocer more often here in Spain , never thought about why though.
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I think that you are getting the verb "saber" confused with the noun "sabor" "Tener sabor" is used for "to have flavor".
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You are mistaken. Saber can mean "to taste" or "to have flavor".
Saber = tener sabor
- 777
I speak Spanish. You are correct . Saber is not the same that sabor.Saludos
I'd imagine that either could work, but conocer could work in a sense they are familiar with the rules.
Yes, I think in this example, it would mean that they are familiar with the what the consequences are.
I put that they are familiar with the consequences, but they marked it as wrong.
I also wrote familiar as that is what I was taught in Costa Rica. Conocer is familiar with or acquainted with.
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If you are following this report, today is August 8th 2019 and it still doesn't accept "They are familiar with the consequences."
What is the main difference between conocer and saber? I thought conocer was more for people, relationships etc.
Perhaps a more accurate portrayal of the sentiment would be "I am well familiar with Miami." Note: I don't mean that your translation isn't correct, I'm just clarifying for translational intent.
To say "Yo sé bien Miama," literally "I know Miama well" isn't used because the distinction in Spanish is that saber translates the sentiment of the knowing of fact whereas conocer conveys that you have knowledge of a subject, that you are familiar with it, or acquainted with an individual.
It is, but conocer is also to know something very well, like you're familiar with it.
Shouldn't "They are familiar with the consequences" be an appropriate translation?
For "They are familiar with the consequences", Google translator gives ""Están familiarizados con las consecuencias." A very different choice of words. So, no, I don't think "They are familiar with the consequences" would be an appropriate translation even though the thoughts expressed are similar.
Trust me, you don't want to be quoting Google Translate as justification.
Conocer can translate to familiar. Often, it's more natural to do so. If you were to say "Conozco literatura española," in English, you generally wouldn't say I know Spanish Literature. You might say that you are familiar with Spanish Literature. The difference in Spanish between saber and conocer is that saber relates to facts while conocer relates to familiarity with a subject, idea, or person.
Yeh, I know about the faults of the google translator. Duolingo is much better. Google not so much. Thanks for the explanation on conocer and saber. Conocer is not a word I use very much, and accordingly, not one that I feel mastery over.
If I may...
Ellos conocen las consecuencias de fracasar. (Suena música amenazante) ;-)
Of course you may, and thank you for the correction. That is, after all, how we improve.
For reference, "They are aware of the consequences" was accepted on 6/26/15.
Right or wrong, it was accepted on 6/26/15. My post - and I don't know why it was downvoted - was a simple piece of information, for those who like to keep track of these things.
OK, my point was also a simple piece of information. I just tried to explain there are similar forms to say the same thing in both languages.
So what MeadowlarkJ said is perfectly correct, and well said. However it doesn't explain why the sentence uses conocer but isn't talking about people or places. I also had this question, so here's the answer I received: for the same reason conocer means you know someone/place because you've met them or have been there and saber means you know OF the person/place, you can actually use EITHER word for this sentence to mean the same. Example: They know the consequences because they have experienced them, or else really understand the consequences on a personal level (conocer version); OR: They know OF the consequences, but maybe haven't experienced them or really internalized the meaning. (saber version). Hope that helps!
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Conocer--you know a person because you have met tthem, or you know a place because you have been there.
Saber--You know a person or a place in the sense that you know about them. You have read about them or someone has told you about them.
I know a lot about President Obama, but I don't know him. No lo conozco.
concocer is to know people saber is to have knowledge of something
"te conozco" "¿sabes esto?"
- 777
I am native Spanish speaker. What is the difference between " They know the....." or " they are knowing the..". It is not the same or almost? Thanks for your help!
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grace, hola. In English, we use the simple present tense "They know" in sentences like this. If you said "They are knowing the consequences," people would likely understand what you meant, but you would sound foreign. :-) To use "are" plus an "-ing" form of the verb would mean something is continuous in its action, for example: "We are learning Spanish." Hope that helps.
- 777
Hola skepticalways! I appreciate it thank you so much for your excellente explanation. I give you a lingot
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they recognize the consequences was marked wrong. I thought conocen is know in the sense of recognize or familiarity.
