french help?

Question

whats the difference between savoir and connaitre?
when do u use savoir, and when do u use connaitre?

Answer 1

As you are aware, both words mean "to know." Savoir is to know something in an informational sense. (I know where that is. I know the answer.)
Connaitre is to know in the sense of being acqauinted with (usually) somone. (I know him well.)

Answer 2

Savoir and Connaitre are used differently. Savoir means to know a fact, how to do something, and Connaitre is usually used with the meaning of knowing someone, or meeting someone.

Answer 3

The above answers are good. Generally, you use "savoir" before a verb and "connaitre" before a noun or proper name. Of course there are exceptions, but this will be correct most of the time.

Answer 4

'Savoir' is for knowing as in knowing about something or how to do something. 'Connaitre' (and it has an accent over the i, I just don't know how to type it on an english keyboard) is for knowing a person or a place.

For example, 'I know how to cook pizza' or 'I know what 1+1 equals' would use savoir, whereas 'Oh yeah, I know Jim well' or 'Hey, I know you!' would use connaitre.

Answer 5

I am french and I realize that I use one or the other without thinking of the differences. It is automatic because this is my mother tongue. Now I have to consciously think about it to answer your question.

Usually, you use "savoir" for "to know":
Savoir quelque chose = to know something
Savoir quelque chose par cœur = to know something by heart
Savoir une langue = to know a language
Pour autant que je sache = as far as I know
Si j’avais su = had I known

“savoir” means also “to understand” like:
Il sait ce qu’il veut = he knows what he wants

“savoir” also means “to know how” and “to be able to” like:
Savez-vous nager? = Can you swim?

You have a lot of expressions with the work “savoir” (look in any dictionary on online)

Now, the word “connaître” also means “to know” but in different sentences. For me, the meaning is deeper than just “savoir”. If you say “Il s’y connaît”, that means “he’s an expert” just not somebody who knows something. “Connaître quelque chose à fond”means to have a thorough knowledge of something.

Also if you know a person or a place, you never use “savoir”, you use “connaître”:
Je connais ton père = I know your father
Je connais Madrid = I know Madrid

“Connaître” also means “to meet”:
Ils se sont connus en 1990 = they met in 1990

The difference between “savoir” and “connaître” will be obvious once you live in the country (in that case, I think France) and that is why I live in USA to perfect my speaking english.



Message for “green meklar”: the accent over the “i” of the word “connaître” (accent circonflexe), can be done on an english keyboard in this way: hold down the Control key, the Shift Key and the 6 key, let go of all of them and type your “i” that will have the accent on top of it.
(does not work here but works in Microsoft Word where I do my writing and copy-paste if I want my accents).

Answer 6

usually savoir is to know a piece of information or is used without a direct object at all (like, "i know."). connaitre is to know a person or a place. like je connais christine=i know christine or il connait lyon=he's familiar with the city of lyon.

Answer 7

There isn't a real difference - it's like the difference between the two words "tell" and "say"
Connaitre = to know how or to know a place/method/ = je connais la France très bien = I know France very well
Savoir = to know something/ like je sais comment faire les crêpes = I knwo how to make crepes

Answer 8

OH! I finally get to tell someone this! Both are to know. But you say savior when you know something most definately, you know how to do something ie "Je sais francais un peu!" But connaitre is something you use if you know of someone ie "Je connais Michael Jordan."
Okay, it is better when I say it aloud, but hopefully that helps you out just a little bit....

Answer 9

savoir is used usually used before verb eg: cooking etc.connaitre is used before a noun eg: john etc

Answer 10

Savoir is used for knowing a fact or knowing how to do something. "Je sais ce qui s’est passé ici” ("I know what's happened here", as De Gaulle once famously said; "je sais nager" "I can (literally 'know how to') swim."

Connaître is used for being acquainted with somewhere or something. “Je connais bien ton père” (“I know your father well”); “nous connaissons Madrid depuis longtemps” (“we have known Madrid for a long time”; “nous connaissons les oeuvres de Shakespeare”; “we know Shakespeare’s works".