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conoscere

to know

verb koh-NOH-sheh-reh Common

Origin: Latin cognoscere (to get to know)

Also means

to meet

Usage Note

Conoscere means to know a person or place through acquaintance — use it for 'Do you know Maria?' (Conosci Maria?). It contrasts with sapere, which expresses knowing a fact or how to do something. The first meeting sense appears in l'ho conosciuto a Roma ('I met him in Rome'). It takes avere as its auxiliary in compound tenses.

Examples

"Conosco bene questa città."

Natural Translation

I know this city well.

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