Saber (to know) · Present
By TutorLily Editorial Team · Last updated
Saber in the Spanish present (presente) is: yo sé, tú sabes, él/ella/usted sabe, nosotros/as sabemos, vosotros/as sabéis, ellos/ellas/ustedes saben. The present of saber expresses current factual knowledge: 'sé la respuesta' (I know the answer), 'sabes hablar francés' (you know how to speak French). The yo form 'sé' carries a diacritic accent to distinguish it from the pronoun 'se'.
| To Know | Saber |
|---|---|
| I know | yo sé |
| you know | tú sabes |
| he/she knows | él/ella/usted sabe |
| we know | nosotros/as sabemos |
| you know | vosotros/as sabéis |
| they know | ellos/ellas/ustedes saben |
Saber (to know) in context
Sentences that use saber in the present. Tap each to hear it.
I know how to speak three languages.
Do you know where the station is?
My sister knows how to play the violin.
We know the correct answer.
You know many things about history.
Children don't know how to lie yet.
Working with the present
Spanish uses the present tense more broadly than English does. "Estudio español" can mean "I study Spanish," "I am studying Spanish," or "I do study Spanish" — context decides. The biggest stumbling block for English speakers is the yo form of irregular verbs (hago, tengo, doy, voy, soy). Memorise those individually; the other persons usually follow regular patterns.
Frequently asked questions
How do you conjugate saber in the present tense?
What's the difference between saber and conocer?
Why does 'sé' have an accent?
Practice Saber (To Know) in real conversations
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