sapere

to know

verb sah-PEH-reh Common

Origin: Latin sapere (to taste, to be wise)

Also means

to find out

Usage Note

Sapere expresses knowledge of facts or how to do something, contrasting with conoscere (to be acquainted with people or places). So nuotare means 'I know how to swim'. It is highly irregular: present so, sai, sa, sappiamo, sapete, sanno; past participle saputo; takes avere. Followed by di, it also means 'to taste/smell of': sa di menta (it tastes of mint).

Examples

"Non so dove si trova la stazione."

Natural Translation

I don't know where the station is.

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