Questions about SAVOIR ET CONNAITRE?

Question

I have a quiz tomorrow i am not sure the differences between savoir et connaitre and how to use them. Can some who is good at French tell me?

Answer 1

connaitre means that you're familiar with something. You use it with people, "Je connais Tim. Il est mon ami" or whatever. You use it with cities because you're familiar with a city, "je connais chicago." My sister made up a way to remember that really helps her, "je connais Connie," because it's used with people.

Savoir means to know a fact. "Je sais que Tim est aussi ton ami." here I'm saying that I know something. "Je sais quel livre tu aimes."

The way I remember it is not to think of them both meaning "to know," I think of connaitre meaning "to be familiar with" and savoir meaning "to know a fact."

One confusing thing is whether you "connais" or "sais" a language. You can use either, personally I use connaitre, but I've heard savoir used with it.

Answer 2

Savoir is knowledge, as in knowing a language. Connaitre is familiarity, as in knowing someone or an area such as a city. To know a person, place, or thing, you'd use connaitre, but to know a subject, for instance, you'd use savoir.

Answer 3

"Savoir" = to know something factual, to know how to do something.

"Connaitre" = to know about something or someone.

"Je sais" how to build a car from scratch, but 'Je connais" how to drive.

I was always told to think of 'savoir' as the English word derived from it - "savvy" - or "know-how". 'Connaitre' is 'wisdom' - or "know whether to".
You can know how to build a bigger, 'better' bomb - you have the 'savvy'. You 'know', as well, the world doesn't need any more destrucive devices.

Answer 4

Savoir is about knowledge about facts. Conaitre is usually more about knowing a person or persons. Think "aquaintance".

Je sais que tu aime ton bébé ... I know that you love your baby -- fact.

Je connais ta nièce...elle est mon amie -- I know your niece....she is my friend.

Signed,

A former French teacher

Answer 5

I am fluent in French.

Savoir :

Je sais
Tu sais
Il, elle, on sait
nous savons
vous savez
ils, elles, savent

Savoir is to know as in to know facts or concrete information.

Connaitre

Je connais
Tu connais
Il, elle, on connait
nous connaissons
vous connaissez
ils,elles connaissent

This is to know as in to know a person, place, or thing. The concept is that you cannot possibly know every concrete fact about the noun, but you can be familiar with it. Good luck!

Answer 6

As a French person explaining it would be difficult as it is obvious for me.

I found this website, it should help you
http://www.laits.utexas.edu/tex/gr/virr10.html

And as we say in French : Merde ( meaning sh*t ). It is the same as saying bonne chance ( good luck ).