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Connaître vs savoir = to know something vs to know how to do in French

Written by Qualified French Expert Aurélie Drouard HKH, Licence d'anglais LLCE
Last updated: 2024-07-19
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There are two verbs that mean to know in French connaître and savoir.

Learn when to use savoir and connaître in French

Savoir 

Savoir is usually used with a clause; that is, a group of words including a conjugated verb. These clauses can be introduced by words like que, qui, quand, où, combien, ce que, ce qui, etc., to express the knowledge of facts (i.e. I know that/who/when/where...):

Je sais qu'il vient ce soir.I know that he's coming tonight.

Il sait ce que tu veux.He knows what you want.

Tu ne sais pas qui l'a fait.You don't know who did it.

Ray sait combien d'allumettes il y a dans la boîte.Ray knows how many matches there are in the box.

Elle ne sait pas où elle va.She doesn't know where she's going.

Ils savent à quelle heure le magasin ferme.They know what time the shop closes.

Je ne sais pas ce qui se passe.I don't know what's going on.

Savoir can also be followed by an infinitive to express how to do [something], which can be equivalent to can do [something] in the sense of having a skill.

Il sait jouer aux échecs.He knows how to play chess.  
He can play chess.

Savez-vous parler français ?Do you know how to speak French?
Can you speak French?

Nous savons faire des muffins.We know how to make muffins.
We can make muffins.

Connaître

Connaître is followed by a noun, which can be a person, place, thing, or a fact (I know [someone]/[something]):

Je connais Marc.I know Marc.

Elle connaît bien Paris.She knows Paris well.

Est-ce que tu connais Philippe ?Do you know Philippe?

Elle connaît cette recette par cœur.She knows that recipe by heart.

Ils connaissent l'horaire de fermeture du magasin.They know the shop closing time.

In some cases relating to abstract things, both verbs can be used colloquially.

Je connais la vérité.I know the truth.

Je sais la vérité.I know the truth.

Je sais la réponse.I know the answer.

Je connais la réponse.I know the answer.

To know how to conjugate these two verbs in Le Présent, see:

Conjugate connaître/paraître and derivatives in the present tense in French (Le Présent)

Conjugate savoir in the present tense in French (Le Présent)

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Examples and resources

Ray sait combien d'allumettes il y a dans la boîte.Ray knows how many matches there are in the box.
Je sais la vérité.I know the truth.
Elle ne sait pas où elle va.She doesn't know where she's going.
Ils savent à quelle heure le magasin ferme.They know what time the shop closes.
Je ne sais pas ce qui se passe.I don't know what's going on.
Nous savons faire des muffins.We know how to make muffins.
We can make muffins.
Elle connaît cette recette par cœur.She knows that recipe by heart.
Ils connaissent l'horaire de fermeture du magasin.They know the shop closing time.
Je sais la réponse.I know the answer.
Tu ne sais pas qui l'a fait.You don't know who did it.
Je connais la réponse.I know the answer.
Il sait ce que tu veux.He knows what you want.
Je connais la vérité.I know the truth.

connaître

Est-ce que tu connais Philippe ?Do you know Philippe?
Je connais Marc.I know Marc.
Elle connaît bien Paris.She knows Paris well.

savoir

Il sait jouer aux échecs.He knows how to play chess.  
He can play chess.
Je sais qu'il vient ce soir.I know that he's coming tonight.
Savez-vous parler français ?Do you know how to speak French?
Can you speak French?
I'll be right with you...