Difference between Savoir and Connaitre
In French, there are two verbs that can be translated to 'to know': Savoir and Connaitre. While they both refer to knowledge or familiarity with something, they are not interchangeable. In fact, using one instead of the other can completely change the meaning of the sentence.
Savoir
Savoir is used to express knowledge of a fact or a piece of information. It is often followed by a clause introduced by 'que'. For example:
•Je sais que Paris est la capitale de la France.
•Tu sais parler français.
•Il sait jouer du piano.
As you can see in the examples above, 'savoir' is used when talking about knowledge of a specific fact, language or skill.
Connaitre
Connaitre is used to express familiarity with a person, a place, or an object. It is often followed by a noun. For example:
•Je connais Marie depuis longtemps.
•Tu connais bien cette ville.
•Elle connait ce livre par coeur.
As you can see in the examples above, 'connaitre' is used when talking about familiarity or personal knowledge of a person, place or object.
In general, 'savoir' is used for factual knowledge, and 'connaitre' is used for personal knowledge.
It is important to note that there are some exceptions and nuances to the use of these verbs. For example, when talking about knowledge of a skill or ability, both 'savoir' and 'connaitre' can be used, but with different connotations. In addition, some idiomatic expressions use one or the other verb. However, the basic distinction between 'savoir' and 'connaitre' as presented in this course should be a good starting point for learners of French.
Bon courage! (Good luck!)