Ciao! 👋
Imagine you and a friend happily studying Italian together.
In Italian, the verb sapere (to know) is one of the most useful words you’ll learn. It’s friendly and versatile – you use it whenever you:
- Know something (a fact or piece of information),
- Know how to do something,
- Or even when you’re asking indirect questions.
In this guide, we’ll explore all the main uses of sapere with clear examples and helpful tips.
By the end, you’ll feel confident using sapere and avoid common mix-ups – like confusing it with conoscere.
Let’s dive in!
- “Sapere” and Its Forms
- Expressing facts or information
- Knowing how to do something
- Asking direct questions
- In Conditional Sentences
- Special uses
- Sapere vs Conoscere: what’s the difference?
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Cultural tip
- Conclusion
- PDF Summary Table & Exercises
“Sapere” and Its Forms
“Sapere” is conjugated differently depending on the tense and mood. Here are some common forms:
- Present: so, sai, sa, sappiamo, sapete, sanno
- Past Perfect: ho saputo, hai saputo, ha saputo, abbiamo saputo, avete saputo, hanno saputo
“Sapere” typically uses the auxiliary “avere” in compound tenses.
- Imperfect: sapevo, sapevi, sapeva, sapevamo, sapevate, sapevano
- Future Simple: saprò, saprai, saprà, sapremo, saprete, sapranno
- Conditional: saprei, sapresti, saprebbe, sapremmo, sapreste, saprebbero
Expressing facts or information
Use sapere to say you know a fact or piece of information. This often includes phrases like “I know that…” or “I don’t know where…”.
Common pattern: sapere + che / question word
Examples:
- Io so che domani sarà martedì. – I know that tomorrow will be Tuesday.
- Non so cosa succede! – I don’t know what’s happening!
- Loro sanno che Maria è in Italia. – They know that Maria is in Italy.
Tip: Use sapere with words like che (that), cosa (what), dove (where), chi (who), etc.ething.
Knowing how to do something
Use sapere + infinitive to talk about skills or things you know how to do.
Examples:
- So nuotare. – I know how to swim.
- Sai suonare la chitarra? – Can you play the guitar?
- Non sappiamo cucinare sushi. – We don’t know how to cook sushi.
🔔 Reminder: Sapere is often used like “can” when referring to learned skills.
Asking direct questions
Use sapere when asking or responding to direct questions – questions using “where, what, who, when, how, why…”
Examples:
- Sai dov’è la farmacia? – Do you know where the pharmacy is?
- Non so chi ha vinto. – I don’t know who won.
- Sappiamo quando inizia il film? – Do we know when the movie starts?
❗️You wouldn’t use conoscere in these cases.
In Conditional Sentences
“Sapere” appears in conditional sentences to express knowledge that could have been useful under different circumstances.
Examples:
- Se avessi saputo del tuo compleanno, ti avrei comprato un regalo. (If I had known about your birthday, I would have bought you a gift.)
- Avresti dovuto dirmi che non potevi venire. (You should have told me that you couldn’t come.)
In English, “would have known” or “should have known” are used to express retrospective knowledge or awareness.
Special uses
a. Finding out news
In the past tense, sapere can mean “to find out”:
- Hai saputo la notizia? – Did you hear the news?
- Abbiamo saputo che la lezione è annullata. – We found out the class is cancelled.
b. Impersonal expressions
- Si sa che gli italiani amano il caffè. – Everyone knows Italians love coffee.
- Chissà dov’è Marco! – Who knows where Marco is!
Sapere vs Conoscere: what’s the difference?
I talked more about it here, but let’s do a quick review
Use sapere:
- for facts, information, skills,
- with question words or infinitives.
Use conoscere:
- for people, places, things you are familiar with.
Examples:
- So che il Brasile è un bel paese, e conosco Rio de Janeiro. – I know Brazil is beautiful, and I know the city of Rio.
- Laura sa parlare italiano, ma conosce anche la cultura. – Laura knows how to speak Italian and she knows the culture.
Think of sapere as “objective knowledge” and conoscere as “familiarity.”
Common mistakes to avoid
- Don’t say “Posso parlare inglese” when you mean “I know how to speak English.” Say “So parlare inglese.”
- Don’t use conoscere with question words or infinitives.
- Be careful with “sapere di”. It means “to taste/smell like”:
- Il gelato sa di fragola. – The ice cream tastes like strawberry.
Cultural tip
Don’t worry too much about getting sapere and conoscere perfect right away. Even advanced learners sometimes mix them up.
The important thing is: keep practicing and listening for real examples.
Conclusion
Use sapere when you know something, know how to do something, or are asking questions. It’s a powerful tool in your Italian journey.
Practice with your own examples:
- Sai cucinare qualcosa di italiano?
- So che imparare l’italiano è possibile!
Keep going – a little practice every day makes a big difference.
Buon lavoro e buona fortuna! 🍀
Dillo in Italiano 