Unit 18 · People and feelingsA2Lesson 5 of 5: Knowing and seeming
Saber and conhecer in European Portuguese
This is the last of 5 lessons in Unit 18, People and feelings (Pessoas e sentimentos), an A2 unit in which you describe what people look like and what they are like, talk about feelings, and choose between ser and estar, saber and conhecer. You will meet 8 new words, such as saber (to know), conheço (I know (people, places)) and parecer (to seem), in 10 short sentences you can listen to. Building on Getting upset, getting happy, it gets you to sentences like Eu conheço-o de vista (“I know him by sight”). The unit’s grammar notes cover “Saudade” and “Ser or estar?”.
Words in this lesson
| Portuguese | English |
|---|---|
saber | to knowFor facts and skills: sei, sabes, sabe. Sabes nadar? = Can you swim? |
conheço | I know (people, places)From conhecer, for people and places: Eu conheço o Pedro. |
parecer | to seemPareces cansado. = You look tired. |
parece que | it seems that |
o vizinhoalso a vizinha | neighbourOs vizinhos do lado = the next-door neighbours. Os vizinhos de cima = the neighbours upstairs. |
de vista | by sightEu conheço-o de vista. = I know him by sight. |
ninguém | nobodyWith não: Não conheço ninguém. = I don't know anybody. |
a resposta | answer |
Example sentences
- Eu sei nadar, mas não sei dançar.I can swim, but I can't dance.Saber + infinitive = to know how to, "can" for a skill.
- Tu conheces o Pedro?Do you know Pedro?Conhecer is for people and places.
- Eu conheço-o de vista.I know him by sight.O = him. It goes after the verb, with a hyphen: conheço-o.
- Tu sabes onde fica a farmácia?Do you know where the pharmacy is?Saber is for facts and information.
- Eu não conheço ninguém em Lisboa.I don't know anyone in Lisbon.Portuguese uses a double negative: não… ninguém.
- Tu pareces nervoso.You look nervous.Parecer = to look, to seem: pareces to a friend, parece with extra respect.
- Parece que vai chover.It looks like it's going to rain.Parece que = it seems that, it looks like.
- Eu não sei a resposta.I don't know the answer.Sei (I know) comes from saber: facts and information.
- Tu conheces bem o Porto?Do you know Porto well?
- A nova vizinha parece muito simpática.The new neighbour seems very nice.
Grammar notes
The grammar notes for this lesson are on the page for Unit 18: People and feelings: