Years ago, when I was still reading aloud to my sons, we were deep into the Harry Potter books. After finishing the iconic chapter describing Harry鈥檚 first experience boarding the Hogwarts Express from Platform 9 3/4, I closed the book and noticed my older son looking very perplexed. 鈥淲hy, Mamma,鈥 he asked, 鈥渄oes Harry have a trunk?鈥 as he drew his hand away from his face to indicate an elephant鈥檚 long proboscis.
Homonyms are tricky in any language, but especially when translating from one language to another. Even more challenging are homonyms that are nuanced versions of the same word when translated. An excellent example of this is the verb 鈥渢o know鈥 in English, which separates into two distinct verbs when translated into Italian: 鈥sapere鈥 and 鈥conoscere鈥, each used differently depending upon the context.
Here鈥檚 a quick guide to help you navigate these tricky waters:
How to use 鈥sapere鈥
Use 鈥sapere鈥 to indicate:
- knowing about a fact or a situation
- knowing how to do something (sapere + infinitive)
- being able to do something (sapere + infinitive)
Keep in mind that 鈥sapere鈥 is always used with a direct object, as opposed to the use of 鈥渒now鈥 in English. So while you can say 鈥淚 know鈥 in English and have a complete sentence, in Italian you must add the object and say 鈥Lo so鈥 (I know it).
How to use 鈥conoscere鈥
Use 鈥conoscere鈥 to indicate:
- knowing (being acquainted with) someone
- knowing (being familiar with) an area, town, restaurant, etc.
In short, sapere is used to express factual knowledge while conoscere is used to express experiential or thought-out familiarity.
Historical note: Why do we use one word to express 鈥渒now鈥 in English and two to express a similar concept in Italian? The verb to know in modern English derives from the Old English knowen and knouleche, whereas it鈥檚 modern Italian equivalents derive from the Latin kissing cousins cognitus and sapiens.
Examples:
Sapere
Factual Knowledge:
鈼&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Sai che domani dovrebbe nevicare? S矛, lo so. - Do you know tomorrow it鈥檚 supposed to snow? Yes, I know.
鈼&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Mi scusi, sa a che ora arriva il treno? - Excuse me, do you know what time the train arrives?
鈼&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; So il prossimo libro che voglio leggere. - I know what book I want to read next.
鈼&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Non so cosa vuoi da me. - I don't know what you want from me.
To Hear About or Find Out:
鈼&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Abbiamo saputo che 猫 morta la sua zia. - We heard that her aunt passed away.
鈼&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Come lo hai saputo? - How did you find out?
鈼&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Non sapevo che avessi una bambina. - I didn't know that you had a baby daughter.
Know-How/Skill
鈼&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Non so cantare ma mi piace la musica. - I don鈥檛 know how to sing but I love music.
鈼&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Tu sai parlare molto bene l'italiano. - You know how to speak Italian well
General Knowledge
鈼&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Si sa che lui 猫 sempre in ritardo. - Everyone knows that he鈥檚 always late.
鈼&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Si sapeva che andava a finire cos矛. - Everyone knew it would end like this.
鈼&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Non si sa che fine abbia fatto. - No one knows what happened to him.
Conoscere
People:
鈼&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Conosco Marinella da anni. - I鈥檝e known Marinella for years.
鈼&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Ho conosciuto Stefano una volta anni fa. - I met Stefano once years ago.
鈼&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Conosci un medico che parla inglese? - Do you know a doctor who speaks English?
鈼&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Conosciamo uno che faceva il pilota di Formula 1. - We know a guy who was a Formula 1 driver.
Places:
鈼&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Conosco Parigi molto bene. - I know Paris quite well.
鈼&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Mi dicono che si mangia bene a questa trattoria ma non la conosco. - I鈥檝e heard this restaurant is good, but I am not familiar with it.
Experiences:
鈼&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Conosco come funziona l鈥檜niversit脿. - I know how things work at the university.
鈼&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; La prima volta che ho viaggiato da sola ho conosciuto la solitudine. - The first time I traveled alone, I experienced loneliness.
Subjects:
鈼&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Conosco bene i film di Fellini. - I know Fellini鈥檚 films well.
鈼&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Conosce tutti i segreti della pasta fresca. - She knows all the secrets to make fresh pasta.
Now you know how to use know in your next conversation in Italian!
