The verbs saber and conocer are special verbs in the sense that they both change their meaning when they are used in the preterite. This fact is clearly seen when it comes to translating them into English. It is then when their new meaning in the preterite is conveyed in English by using verbs different from the verb to know, which is the most direct translation of saber and conocer in the present.
The most common meaning of saber when used in the present is “to know information” or “to know how to do something,” but when used in the preterit, it also means “to find out, to hear or learn about something.” Also, the most common meaning of conocer when used in the present is “to know a person or to be acquainted with someone,” but when used in the preterit, it also means “to meet someone.” This second meaning in the preterit is more common than the original meaning “to know”. Compare the examples below.
¿Sabes qué hora es?
Do you know what time it is?
No sé cómo funciona esta cafetera.
I don’t know how this coffee maker works.
Todo el mundo sabe que Raúl es un genio.
Everybody knows Raúl is a genius.
¡Quién sabe cuáles fueron sus motivos!
Who knows what his motives were!
¿Alguien sabe qué hay para comer?
Does anyone knows what’s for lunch?
Esta mañana supe el resultado de las elecciones por la radio.
This morning I heard (about) the result of the elecction on the radio.
Nunca supimos qué pasó con el dinero de la subasta.
We never found out what happened with the auction’s money.
María supo lo de la muerte de su esposo en las noticias.
María learned about her husband’s death on the news.
Yo no sé por qué tú no lo supiste antes.
I don’t know why you didn’t find that out earlier.
La policía nunca supo quién robó las joyas del museo.
The police never found out who stole the jewels from of the museum.
Perdone, pero, ¿lo conozco?
Excuse me, but, do I know you?
¿Conocen a esa chica?
Are you guys acquainted with that girl?
Sus padres sólo me conocen de vista.
His parents only know me by sight.
La señora Camila conoce a Javi desde que era un niño.
Mrs. Camila knows Javi since he was a little boy.
Conozco a muchos artistas con talento que se mueren de hambre.
I know a lot of talented artists who starve to death.
El día que nos conocimos llovía a cántaros.
The day we met it was raining heavily.
Soñé que te conocí y me enamoré de ti.
I dreamt I met you and fell in love with you.
Mis padres conocieron a Borges cuando viajaron a Argentina en 1951.
My parents met Borges when they traveled to Argentina in 1961.
Quizás tú eres el único que no conociste al antiguo presidente de la empresa.
Maybe you’re the only one who did not meet the former president of the company.
The most common meaning of saber when used in the present is “to know information” or “to know how to do something,” but when used in the preterit, it also means “to find out, to hear or learn about something.” Also, the most common meaning of conocer when used in the present is “to know a person or to be acquainted with someone,” but when used in the preterit, it also means “to meet someone.” This second meaning in the preterit is more common than the original meaning “to know”. Compare the examples below.
Saber in the Present
sé, sabes, sabe, sabemos, saben¿Sabes qué hora es?
Do you know what time it is?
No sé cómo funciona esta cafetera.
I don’t know how this coffee maker works.
Todo el mundo sabe que Raúl es un genio.
Everybody knows Raúl is a genius.
¡Quién sabe cuáles fueron sus motivos!
Who knows what his motives were!
¿Alguien sabe qué hay para comer?
Does anyone knows what’s for lunch?
Saber in the Preterite
supe, supiste, supo, supimos, supisteis, supieronEsta mañana supe el resultado de las elecciones por la radio.
This morning I heard (about) the result of the elecction on the radio.
Nunca supimos qué pasó con el dinero de la subasta.
We never found out what happened with the auction’s money.
María supo lo de la muerte de su esposo en las noticias.
María learned about her husband’s death on the news.
Yo no sé por qué tú no lo supiste antes.
I don’t know why you didn’t find that out earlier.
La policía nunca supo quién robó las joyas del museo.
The police never found out who stole the jewels from of the museum.
Conocer in the Present
conozco, conoces, conoce, conocemos, conocenPerdone, pero, ¿lo conozco?
Excuse me, but, do I know you?
¿Conocen a esa chica?
Are you guys acquainted with that girl?
Sus padres sólo me conocen de vista.
His parents only know me by sight.
La señora Camila conoce a Javi desde que era un niño.
Mrs. Camila knows Javi since he was a little boy.
Conozco a muchos artistas con talento que se mueren de hambre.
I know a lot of talented artists who starve to death.
Conocer in the Preterite
conocí, conociste, conoció, conocimos, conocieronEl día que nos conocimos llovía a cántaros.
The day we met it was raining heavily.
Soñé que te conocí y me enamoré de ti.
I dreamt I met you and fell in love with you.
Mis padres conocieron a Borges cuando viajaron a Argentina en 1951.
My parents met Borges when they traveled to Argentina in 1961.
Quizás tú eres el único que no conociste al antiguo presidente de la empresa.
Maybe you’re the only one who did not meet the former president of the company.