Savoir and connaître are used in different contexts and can describe different aspects of knowing.
As a French teacher, I hear my students making the same common mistake when expressing I know… Of course, it is quite confusing, as the French language has two verbs that can be translated into English by to know! Therefore, you have to choose between savoir or connaître; and you have 50% chance of getting it right. I hope I can help you understand how to decide which one to use through the following explanation and role plays:
Let’s start with Savoir:
We use it mostly to express something that we know how to do.
For example, I know how to speak French = Je sais parler français.
Savoir is normally followed with another verb in the infinitive form.
Savez-vous faire du ski ?
Elle sait faire la cuisine.
We also use savoir to say that you know something, a fact: I know where Juliette is = Je sais où se trouve Juliette.
Je ne savais pas ça = I didn’t know that.
Nous savons ce que nous devons faire = We know what we should do.
Qu’est-ce vous en savez ? = What do you know about it?
savoir vs connaitre
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