The verbs conoscere and sapere both correspond to the English verb to know, but they have different meanings.

In addition, conoscere is regular and sapere is irregular.

 

 Presente di Conoscere

conosco            conosciamo

conosci             conoscete

conosce            conoscono

 

so               sappiamo

sai              sapete

sa               sanno

 

1. Conoscere means to know in the sense of to be acquainted with someone or something. It can also mean to meet, make the acquaintance of.

 

Conosci l'amico di Giovanna?               Do you know Giovanna's friend?

Non conosciamo la città.                        We don't know the city.

Voglio conoscere quella ragazza.            I want to meet that girl.

 

 

2. Sapere means to know a fact, to have knowledge of something, or to find out something.

When followed by an infinitive, it means to know how to do something.

 

Scusi, sa dov'è il ristorante Stella?                  Excuse me, do you know where the Ristorante Stella is?

Non so perché i bambini non mangiano.         I don't know why the kids aren't eating.

Sanno tutti i nomi degli studenti.                    The know all the names of the students.

Quando posso sapere a che ora è l'esame?     When can I find out what time the exam is?

Sapete ballare voi?                                          Do you know how to dance?

 

3. The pronoun LO is commonly used with sapere to express the object of the verb. 

This object is understood (but not expressed) in English.

 

-- Sapete dov'è Maria?                  Do you know where Maria is?

-- No lo sappiamo.                        We don't know.