29 Qu'est-ce que tu fais ici ?

savoir vs. connaître

Je ne connais pas ses goûts et je ne sais pas ce qu'il aime. I don't know his tastes and I don't know what he likes.

Savoir

"Savoir" generally refers to knowing facts, information, or how to do something. ^{1 2} It's used for:

1. Knowledge of facts or information:

   • Je sais que Paris est la capitale de la France. (I know that Paris is the capital of France.)

2. Knowing how to do something (skills):

   • Je sais nager. (I know how to swim.)

3. Being aware of something:

   • Je sais qu'il pleut dehors. (I know it's raining outside.)

4. Memorized information:

   • Je sais ma leçon par cœur. (I know my lesson by heart.)

Connaître

"Connaître" is used for being familiar with or acquainted with someone or something. ^{1 2} It's used for:

1. Knowing a person:

   • Je connais Marie depuis longtemps. (I've known Marie for a long time.)

2. Being familiar with a place:

   • Je connais bien cette ville. (I know this city well.)

3. Being familiar with a subject or topic:

   • Il connaît bien l'histoire de France. (He knows French history well.)

4. Recognizing or identifying:

   • Je connais cette chanson. (I know/recognize this song.)

Key Differences

1. Object type: "Savoir" is often followed by "que" (that) or an infinitive, while "connaître" is typically followed by a direct object.

2. Depth of knowledge: "Savoir" implies more factual or skill-based knowledge, while "connaître" suggests familiarity or acquaintance.

3. Negation: In negative form, "ne pas savoir" means "to not know" (lack of knowledge), while "ne pas connaître" means "to not be familiar with" or "to have never met."

Vocabulaire

mots	explications
course	shopping, race, running
offrir	to offer, to give - offrir qch à qn to give sth to sb, to give sb sth
le goût	taste
dedans	ADV. inside
vendre	to sell - « à vendre » "for sale"
la noix	walnut
le morceau	piece
la chantilly	sweetened whipped cream
gourmand	greedy, foodie, fond of good food
plutôt	quite, rather, instead
faciliter	to make easier, to facilitate

Footnotes

1. Savoir vs. Connaître: What Is the Difference? ↩ ↩²

2. Savoir vs Connaître (and Ignorer) ↩ ↩²