¿sabes?
informal
The Spanish phrase for "do you know?" (of knowledge) is ¿sabes? Wiktionary also lists ¿sabe usted?
Meaning: do you know? (of knowledge) (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| ¿sabes? | informal |
| ¿sabe usted? |
This phrase is used to ask if someone possesses specific knowledge, information or the ability to do something.
Which one should you use?
The verb used in these forms, *saber*, is specifically for knowing facts, information or how to do something. This contrasts with *conocer*, which is used for being acquainted with people or places.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
You should use ¿sabes? when speaking to friends, family or people your own age. For elders, superiors or in professional settings where you need to show respect, use ¿sabe usted? Other formal ways to ask if someone knows or is familiar with something include Conoce usted or Tiene usted conocimiento de.
Did you know?
- The formal usted is a contraction of vuestra merced, which literally means 'your mercy'.
- In casual speech, ¿sabes? is often used as a filler word like 'you know' in English, even when the speaker isn't actually asking a question.
- Using ¿sabes? with a boss or a stranger in some Spanish-speaking cultures can be seen as a significant social slight rather than just being 'informal'.
Examples in context
- ¿Sabes?Do you know?This example shows how to use the informal ¿sabes?Tatoeba #4484509 by cueyayotl, translation #619875 by ulyssemc1
- Sabe usted dónde está la biblioteca?Do you know where the library is?
- Conoce usted la obra de Picasso?Do you know Picasso's work?
- Sabe usted cómo se administra este medicamento?Do you know how to administer this medication?
- Tiene usted conocimiento de los conceptos básicos en matemáticas?Do you know the basic concepts in mathematics?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “do you know” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries usted, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
