saber

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know, understand, find out, know how to, can
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/saˈbeɾ/
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To hold knowledge or ability, to give a taste or feeling, or knowledge itself.
Practice using saber in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • Mi abuelo sabía levantarse antes del amanecer.
    My grandfather used to get up before dawn.
  • Nos supo a poco el concierto.
    The concert left us wanting more.
  • A todos nos supo fatal su despedida.
    We all felt awful about his farewell.
  • Me supo mal perderme tu cumpleaños.
    I felt bad about missing your birthday.
  • Compartir el saber fortalece a la comunidad.
    Sharing knowledge strengthens the community.

Similar words

entender
caer
discernir
tener noticias
tener gusto
estar enterado
tener por costumbre
estar enterado
soler
cultura

Meanings

Know a fact or subject

verb
knowledge
neutral
To have information in the mind, understand a subject, or be certain that something is true.

Examples

  • No sé la respuesta.
    I do not know the answer.
  • ¿Sabes dónde está Marta?
    Do you know where Marta is?
  • Todos sabíamos que iba a llover.
    We all knew it was going to rain.
  • Ella sabe mucho de historia.
    She knows a lot about history.
  • Cuando supe la verdad, lo llamé.
    When I found out the truth, I called him.

Similar words

conocer
entender
comprender
dominar
estar enterado
discernir

Know how to do something

verb
skills
neutral
To have learned the skill needed to do an action, normally followed by an infinitive.

Examples

  • Lucía sabe nadar.
    Lucía knows how to swim.
  • ¿Sabes conducir?
    Can you drive?
  • Mi abuelo sabía reparar relojes.
    My grandfather knew how to repair watches.
  • Todavía no sé cocinar arroz.
    I still do not know how to cook rice.
  • Los niños ya saben leer.
    The children can already read.

Similar words

dominar
manejar
poder
ser capaz de
tener habilidad para

Have news about someone or something

verb
communication
neutral
To have received news or information about a person, event, or situation, often with de.

Examples

  • No sé nada de Paula desde mayo.
    I have not heard anything about Paula since May.
  • Ayer supimos del cierre de la fábrica.
    Yesterday we heard about the factory closing.
  • ¿Sabes algo del nuevo proyecto?
    Have you heard anything about the new project?
  • Nadie sabía de sus planes.
    Nobody knew about his plans.
  • En cuanto sepa de una vacante, te aviso.
    As soon as I hear about an opening, I will tell you.

Similar words

estar enterado
tener noticias
informarse
enterarse

Have a particular taste

verb
food
neutral
To give a particular flavour when eaten or drunk, commonly followed by a or an adverb.

Examples

  • La sopa sabe a ajo.
    The soup tastes of garlic.
  • Este café sabe amargo.
    This coffee tastes bitter.
  • Las fresas sabían muy dulces.
    The strawberries tasted very sweet.
  • La salsa no sabe igual sin cilantro.
    The sauce does not taste the same without coriander.
  • Prueba el guiso y dime a qué sabe.
    Try the stew and tell me what it tastes like.

Similar words

tener sabor
tener gusto

Cause an emotional impression

verb
emotion
neutral
To make an event or experience feel good, bad, strange, or otherwise affect someone emotionally.

Examples

  • Me supo mal perderme tu cumpleaños.
    I felt bad about missing your birthday.
  • Nos supo a poco el concierto.
    The concert left us wanting more.
  • Le sabrá bien recibir la noticia.
    She will be pleased to receive the news.
  • Me sabe raro volver después de tantos años.
    It feels strange to return after so many years.
  • A todos nos supo fatal su despedida.
    We all felt awful about his farewell.

Similar words

parecer
sentar
resultar
caer

Habitually do something in parts of America

verb
everyday
informal
In Argentina and several Andean and Central American countries, to do something regularly or customarily, like soler.

Examples

  • De niña sabía jugar en esa plaza todas las tardes.
    As a child, she used to play in that square every afternoon.
  • Mi abuelo sabía levantarse antes del amanecer.
    My grandfather used to get up before dawn.
  • En verano sabemos comer afuera.
    In summer we usually eat outside.
  • Ellos sabían pasar por aquí los domingos.
    They used to come by here on Sundays.
  • Cuando vivía en Lima, sabía caminar hasta el trabajo.
    When I lived in Lima, I used to walk to work.

Similar words

soler
acostumbrar
tener por costumbre

Knowledge or learning

noun
education
neutral
Knowledge gained through study or experience, either generally or within a particular field.

Examples

  • El saber popular se transmite de generación en generación.
    Folk knowledge is passed from generation to generation.
  • Su saber científico era muy amplio.
    Her scientific knowledge was extensive.
  • La biblioteca conserva muchos saberes antiguos.
    The library preserves many forms of ancient knowledge.
  • Compartir el saber fortalece a la comunidad.
    Sharing knowledge strengthens the community.
  • La medicina reúne distintos saberes.
    Medicine brings together different fields of knowledge.

Similar words

conocimiento
sabiduría
erudición
cultura
ciencia
sapiencia

Etymology

From Latin sapere, originally linked to having taste and being wise.

FAQ

What does saber mean?

Saber most often means to know a fact or know how to do something. It can also mean to taste, to feel emotionally, or knowledge as a noun.

What is the difference between saber and conocer?

Use saber for facts, information, subjects, and learned skills. Use conocer for familiarity with people, places, or things.

How is saber used with an infinitive?

Saber plus an infinitive expresses learned ability, as in sé nadar, meaning I can swim.

What are the main irregular forms of saber?

The key forms are sé, supe, sabré, sepa, and the participle sabido. Voseo uses sabés.

Can saber mean to taste?

Yes. Saber a introduces a flavour, as in sabe a limón, meaning it tastes like lemon.

Can saber be a noun?

Yes. Masculine el saber means knowledge or learning, and its plural is saberes.

What does supe mean?

In many contexts supe means I found out or learned a fact, not merely that I possessed the information before.

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