When you first learn French, you're often taught 'savoir' or 'connaître' for 'to know'. But did you know there are actually many more nuanced ways to express different kinds of knowledge in French? Just like in English, 'to know' can mean different things, and French has specific verbs to capture those distinctions. Mastering these will make your French sound much more natural and precise. Let's dive into 9 ways to say 'to know' in French!

The 'to know a fact, or how to do something' – savoir

In French, savoir is one of two main verbs that translate to 'to know'. It specifically refers to knowing a fact, a piece of information, or how to do something.

When you savoir something, you possess knowledge about it. This can be a factual piece of information, a secret, or general knowledge. It often implies a cognitive understanding.

Savoir is also used to express an ability or skill – 'to know how to do something'. It's always followed by an infinitive verb in this context.

Savoir is an irregular verb, so its conjugation needs to be memorized. For instance, in the present tense, it's: je sais, tu sais, il/elle/on sait, nous savons, vous savez, ils/elles savent.

To state a fact, you typically use savoir followed by que (that) and a clause. For example, Je sais que tu es là (I know that you are here).

Savoir is commonly used with interrogative words like où (where), quand (when), pourquoi (why), comment (how), etc., to mean 'to know where/when/why/how...'. For instance, Je sais où il habite (I know where he lives).

When expressing an ability, savoir is directly followed by the infinitive form of the verb. For example, Elle sait nager (She knows how to swim).

It's crucial to distinguish savoir from the other verb for 'to know', connaître. While savoir is about facts and abilities, connaître is about being familiar with people, places, or things.

Think of savoir as 'to know intellectually' (information, skills), and connaître as 'to know personally' (people, places, works of art). You sais a fact, but you connais a person.

💡 * Je sais parler français. (I know how to speak French.)

Tu sais où sont les clés ? (Do you know where the keys are?)

Nous savons que la terre est ronde. (We know that the Earth is round.)

Elle ne sait pas nager. (She doesn't know how to swim.)

Savez-vous quand le magasin ouvre ? (Do you know when the store opens?)

The 'to know a person, a place, or to be familiar with' – connaître

The "to know a person, a place, or to be familiar with" – connaître

In French, the verb connaître (pronounced "koh-NET-ruh") is one of two primary verbs that translate to "to know" in English. It specifically refers to knowing or being familiar with a person, a place, or a thing in the sense of having personal acquaintance or experience.

This is often where learners get confused, as French has another verb, savoir, also meaning "to know." The key difference is that connaître implies a direct, personal familiarity or acquaintance, rather than knowing a fact or how to do something.

When you use connaître with a person, it means you know them personally, you've met them, and you're familiar with who they are. You wouldn't use it to say you know a fact about them, but rather that you know them.

Similarly, connaître applies to places you've visited or are familiar with, and things (like books, movies, subjects) you have experience with or have studied. It's about having knowledge gained through exposure.

To reiterate, if you know a fact or how to do something, you'll typically use savoir. If you know a person, a place, or are familiar with a concept/thing through experience, you'll use connaître. Think of connaître as "to be acquainted with."

💡 * Je connais Paris. (I know Paris / I am familiar with Paris.)

Tu connais mon frère ? (Do you know my brother?)

Elle connaît bien l'histoire de France. (She knows French history well / She is well-versed in French history.)

Nous connaissons ce restaurant. (We know this restaurant / We are familiar with this restaurant.)

Je ne connais pas cette chanson. (I don't know this song / I am not familiar with this song.)

The 'to be aware of or informed about' – être au courant de

The French expression être au courant de is a common and useful way to say 'to be aware of,' 'to be informed about,' or 'to be up to date on' something.

Literally, it translates to 'to be in the current of,' which gives a good sense of its meaning: having the latest information or being 'in the loop.'

This idiomatic phrase combines the verb être (to be) with the fixed expression au courant and is followed by de (of/about) before the noun or pronoun you are aware of. Remember to always include the de.

As with any expression involving a verb, the verb être must be conjugated according to the subject. For example, 'I am aware' would be Je suis au courant, and 'They are aware' would be Ils sont au courant.

It's particularly used when referring to news, events, plans, or any information that one might or should be informed about. It implies having current knowledge rather than general knowledge.

To express 'not to be aware of,' simply place ne before the conjugated form of être and pas after it. For instance, Je ne suis pas au courant means 'I am not aware.'

💡 * Es-tu au courant des dernières nouvelles ? (Are you aware of the latest news?)

Je ne suis pas au courant de ce projet. (I am not aware of this project.)

Elle est toujours au courant de tout ce qui se passe. (She is always aware of everything that is happening.)

Nous devrions être au courant avant de prendre une décision. (We should be informed before making a decision.)

The 'to know thoroughly or to master' – maîtriser

The French verb maîtriser translates most accurately to 'to know thoroughly,' 'to master,' or 'to have a command of.' It implies a deep understanding and skill level.

Unlike savoir (to know a fact or how to do something) or connaître (to be familiar with a person or thing), maîtriser specifically conveys the idea of mastery or expertise. You don't just know it; you command it.

Maîtriser is frequently used when discussing proficiency in languages, skills, subjects, or even the ability to control a situation or an emotion. It highlights competence and control.

As a regular -ER verb, maîtriser follows standard conjugation patterns. It is a transitive verb, meaning it always takes a direct object.

💡 * Je maîtrise le français. (I master French. / I have a command of French.)

Elle maîtrise son sujet à la perfection. (She masters her subject perfectly. / She has a perfect command of her subject.)

Il n'arrive pas à maîtriser sa colère. (He can't control his anger.)

Pour ce poste, il faut maîtriser plusieurs logiciels. (For this position, one must master several software programs.)

Nous maîtrisons les techniques de marketing digital. (We master digital marketing techniques.)

The 'to recognize or know again' – reconnaître

The verb reconnaître is a fundamental French verb that translates primarily to “to recognize” or “to know again.” It signifies the act of identifying someone or something you have encountered before.

At its core, reconnaître is about identifying something or someone based on prior knowledge or experience. It’s about that moment of realization when you recall what or who you are seeing.

Beyond simple recognition, reconnaître also carries the meaning of “to acknowledge,” “to admit,” or “to concede.” This usage is common when admitting a truth, a fact, or a mistake.

Furthermore, it can mean “to identify” in a more formal sense, like identifying a government or a talent. It can also imply granting recognition or legitimacy to something.

Reconnaître is conjugated similarly to connaître and paraître. It's an irregular -re verb, but its stem changes in some forms (e.g., je reconnais, nous reconnaissons). Pay attention to the circumflex in the past participle: reconnu.

Due to its various meanings, reconnaître is a highly versatile verb essential for expressing recognition, acknowledgment, and identification in a wide range of contexts.

💡 * Je ne t'avais pas reconnu avec tes nouvelles lunettes. (I didn't recognize you with your new glasses.)

Il a reconnu son erreur. (He admitted his mistake.)

Le gouvernement a reconnu l'indépendance du nouveau pays. (The government recognized the independence of the new country.)

On reconnaît son talent. (We recognize his talent.)

Je reconnais bien là sa signature. (I definitely recognize his signature there.)

The 'to have knowledge of (often formal)' – avoir connaissance de

When you want to express 'to have knowledge of' or 'to be aware of' something in a more formal or specific way in French, the phrase to use is avoir connaissance de.

Literally translating to 'to have knowledge of', avoir connaissance de conveys a sense of being informed or officially apprised of a fact, situation, or document. It's significantly more formal than simply savoir (to know a fact) or connaître (to know a person/place/thing).

This expression is frequently encountered in administrative, legal, or official communications. You'll see it in reports, official letters, legal documents, or when discussing formal awareness of rules, regulations, or sensitive information. It implies a degree of responsibility or official notification.

The structure is straightforward: avoir (conjugated) + connaissance + de + (noun/pronoun). It can also be followed by a que clause (e.g., J'ai connaissance que...), though this is less common than with a direct object.

Avoir connaissance de suggests a more profound or official understanding than a casual savoir. Use it when the knowledge is significant, official, or when you want to emphasize being formally informed. Avoid using it in casual conversation where savoir or être au courant de would be more natural.

💡 *J'ai connaissance de votre demande. (I am aware of your request.)
*Nous avons connaissance des risques associés à ce projet. (We are aware of the risks associated with this project.)
*Elle n'avait pas connaissance de la nouvelle réglementation. (She was not aware of the new regulation.)
*La direction a pris connaissance des conclusions du rapport. (The management took note of the report's conclusions.)
*Avez-vous connaissance de l'existence d'autres documents pertinents ? (Are you aware of the existence of other relevant documents?)

The 'to be knowledgeable about a specific field' – s'y connaître en

To express that someone is knowledgeable about a specific field or an expert in something in French, you use the idiomatic phrase s'y connaître en.

The reflexive pronoun y in this construction replaces a place or an abstract idea, translating roughly to 'in it' or 'about it'. It indicates the area of knowledge.

The preposition en then introduces the specific field or domain in which someone is an expert. For example, s'y connaître en informatique means 'to be knowledgeable in IT'.

💡 * Elle s'y connaît vraiment en vins. (She really knows a lot about wines.)

Tu t'y connais en mécanique? J'ai un problème avec ma voiture. (Are you knowledgeable about mechanics? I have a problem with my car.)

Il ne s'y connaît pas du tout en art moderne. (He doesn't know anything at all about modern art.)

Nous nous y connaissons en langues étrangères. (We are knowledgeable about foreign languages.)

The 'to be informed of specific details or news' – être informé de

The 'to be informed of specific details or news' – être informé de

The phrase être informé de literally translates to “to be informed of” or “to be aware of.” It implies having knowledge about specific details, facts, or recent news concerning a particular subject.

This expression is often used in more formal contexts or when referring to official communication, reports, or significant events. It suggests that the information is precise and often delivered by a reliable source, unlike simply 'knowing' something casually.

While savoir means 'to know' in a general sense, être informé de specifically highlights the act of receiving or possessing particular information. You can be informé de a new policy, a situation's development, or a recent event.

💡 * Il est important d'être informé des dernières nouvelles. (It's important to be informed of the latest news.)

Elle a été informée des changements par email. (She was informed of the changes by email.)

Nous devons être informés de l'avancement du projet. (We must be informed of the project's progress.)

Le public n'était pas informé de la gravité de la situation. (The public was not informed of the seriousness of the situation.)

1. The 'to know by experience or to be familiar with' – être familier avec

To express the idea of 'to know by experience,' 'to be familiar with,' or 'to be accustomed to' something or someone in French, the most common and direct phrase is être familier avec.

Unlike connaître (to know a person, place, or thing) or savoir (to know a fact or how to do something), être familier avec specifically implies a deep acquaintance, comfort, or practical knowledge gained through experience. It suggests that you are well-acquainted with a subject, a situation, or a person.

The structure is straightforward: conjugate the verb être (to be) according to the subject, followed by familier(e)(s) (which agrees in gender and number with the subject), and then avec (with) plus the noun or pronoun you are familiar with. For example, Je suis familier avec ce logiciel (I am familiar with this software).

This phrase is widely used in various contexts, from professional settings (e.g., being familiar with a specific tool or procedure) to personal ones (e.g., being familiar with a neighborhood or a particular type of cuisine). It emphasizes a level of comfort and understanding beyond mere recognition.

💡 * Je suis familier avec ce quartier. (I am familiar with this neighborhood.)

Elle est très familière avec les œuvres de Molière. (She is very familiar with Molière's works.)

Es-tu familier avec les nouvelles règles ? (Are you familiar with the new rules?)

Nous sommes familiers avec les défis de ce projet. (We are familiar with the challenges of this project.)

Ils ne sont pas encore familiers avec le système. (They are not yet familiar with the system.)

Are there other ways to say 'to know' in French?

Are there other ways to say “to know” in French?

Our list features the most common ways to say “to know” in French: savoir and connaître. But French, like any language, is rich with nuances, and there are other expressions, from formal to idiomatic, to convey different kinds of 'knowing'.

You can also do an online search for “comment dire savoir en ___” followed by a specific Francophone country or region to discover local expressions.

You might find interesting alternatives or idiomatic phrases related to 'knowing'. Of course, always make sure to check a word’s definition and try to see it used in context before you use it yourself.

Pay attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover different ways to talk about 'knowing' facts, people, or skills.

And if you’re looking for a deeper dive into the subtleties of savoir and connaître, or other related verbs, the WordReference entries for savoir and connaître are excellent places to start!

I hope you found this article helpful in understanding how to say 'to know' in French. Here’s a thought from Descartes that perfectly encapsulates the essence of knowing: “Je pense, donc je suis.” (I think, therefore I am.) While not directly about savoir or connaître, it speaks to the fundamental act of knowing and existence.

9 ways to say "to know" in French