conocen

Conocen is the third-person plural present indicative form of the Spanish verb conocer. It corresponds to the English phrase they know, or you (plural) know in regions where ustedes is used. The verb conveys familiarity or acquaintance with people, places, or things, rather than knowledge of facts or how to do something, which is typically expressed with saber.

Conjugation and form: conocer is irregular in the first-person singular, producing conozco. The present tense forms are: yo conozco, tú conoces, él/ella/Ud conoce, nosotros conocemos, vosotros conocéis, ellos/ellas/Uds conocen. Therefore, conocen is used with ellos/ellas/Uds or in contexts where ustedes is the subject.

Etymology: conocer comes from Latin cognoscere, meaning to learn or become acquainted.

Usage notes: Conocer can be followed by a direct object for people (conocer a alguien) or for places and things (conocer un lugar, conocer una empresa). It appears in idiomatic expressions such as conocer de oídas (to know by hearsay) or conocer bien (to know well) and to know something inside out as conocer al dedillo. The distinction with saber is important: saber is used for facts, information, or skills, while conocer denotes familiarity or acquaintance.

Regional variation: In Spain, the informal plural you is vosotros and conoceis is used in present tense, whereas in many parts of Latin America, ustedes conocen is common for the same subject.

See also: conocer, saber.