savoir
/sa.vwaʁ/
The French phrase for 'to know' is savoir.
savoir is used when you mean to have information or be aware of a specific fact. An informal way to express having expertise or knowledge in a specific field is to use the expression s'y connaître en.
Which one should you use?
While savoir is used for facts, you should use connaître when you mean to be acquainted with a person, a place or a specific thing.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to say you know a fact or a piece of information, savoir is typically followed by the conjunction que (to know that). If savoir is followed directly by an infinitive verb, it shifts meaning to 'to know how to' perform a skill.
How do you pronounce it?
/sa.vwaʁ/ (2 syllables)
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use savoir to mean being acquainted with a person. In that context, you must use connaître instead.
Did you know?
- The French verb savoir shares a root with the English word 'sapid' meaning flavorful. This is because the original Latin word sapĕre meant both 'to taste' and 'to be wise'.
- In French, the word savoir-faire is used as a noun to mean 'know-how' or tact. While it literally uses the verb savoir, it functions as a single term for a specific social or professional skill.
- In older texts, you might see savoir spelled as sçavoir. This unusual spelling was used because scholars mistakenly thought the word came from the Latin root scīre instead of sapĕre.
Examples in context
- Tu veux savoir ?Want to know?This sentence is useful for asking if someone wants to know something using savoir.Tatoeba #4743867 by sicerabibax, translation #320083 by AlanF_US
- Je dois le savoir.I have to know.This sentence is useful for expressing a necessity to know something using savoir.Tatoeba #1800406 by sacredceltic, translation #2360542 by CK
- Il me faut savoir.I need to know.This sentence is useful for expressing a need to know something using savoir.Tatoeba #2251528 by sacredceltic, translation #2246738 by Hybrid
- Je sais parler françaisI know how to speak French
- Je connais cette villeI know this city
- Je suis au courant de la situationI am aware of the situation
- Je sais cuisinerI know how to cook
- Je connais cette personneI know this person
- Il s'y connaît bien en musiqueHe knows a lot about music
- Je n'en sais rienI have no idea
- Tu me dirasYou'll let me know
- 862 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Hugo are talking about a party.
- LéaEst-ce que tu veux savoir où est la fête ?Do you want to know where the party is?
- HugoOui, je ne sais pas encore.Yes, I don't know yet.
- LéaC'est chez Marc ce soir.It is at Marc's place tonight.
- HugoMerci, je suis content de le savoir.Thanks, I am glad to know it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry savoir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries savoir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
