Introduction
Learning how to say I know and I don’t know is one of the first steps in building conversational confidence in Brazilian Portuguese. This article explains the basic verbs, common phrases, pronunciation tips, and practical examples you can use right away in everyday situations, from asking for directions to filling out forms or chatting with new friends.
Core verbs: saber and conhecer
The two main verbs you need are saber and conhecer. Both can translate as know in English, but they are used differently.
saber is used for facts, information, skills, or knowing how to do something. Think of answers, phone numbers, or how-to knowledge.
conhecer is used for knowing people, places, or being familiar with something. Use it when you meet someone or when you recognize a city, restaurant, or book.
Basic conjugation: Eu sei and Eu não sei
For beginners, start with the present tense of saber for I know and I don’t know.
Affirmative: Eu sei — I know.
Negative: Eu não sei — I do not know / I don’t know.
In casual speech, Brazilians often drop the subject pronoun, so you will commonly hear sei and não sei.
Useful phrases with saber
Here are practical examples showing how to use saber in everyday contexts.
Asking for information:
Você sabe onde fica a estação?
Do you know where the station is?
Responding:
Eu sei. Fica duas quadras à esquerda.
I know. It is two blocks to the left.
Saying you do not know:
Eu não sei. Desculpe.
I don’t know. Sorry.
Talking about skills or abilities:
Eu sei cozinhar arroz e feijão.
I know how to cook rice and beans.
Asking if someone knows how to do something:
Você sabe dirigir?
Do you know how to drive?
Useful phrases with conhecer
Use conhecer when talking about people, places, or being familiar with a thing.
Meeting someone for the first time:
Prazer em conhecer você.
Nice to meet you.
Talking about visiting a city or place:
Eu conheço São Paulo.
I know São Paulo / I am familiar with São Paulo.
Expressing unfamiliarity:
Eu não conheço esse restaurante.
I do not know this restaurant.
Asking about experience with something:
Você conhece música brasileira?
Are you familiar with Brazilian music?
Short, common exchanges
These are typical beginner-level exchanges you might hear or need in shops, on the street, or while traveling.
– Você sabe que horas são?
– Sei, são três e meia.
– Você conhece este prato?
– Não conheço. O que é?
– Você sabe falar inglês?
– Sei um pouco.
Pronunciation tips for beginners
Pronunciation matters less at the very start than understanding which verb to use, but a few tips help you be understood.
Sei: sounds like say but with a shorter vowel; stress the e sound.
Não: pronounced like how with a nasal nã; the tilde makes the vowel nasal.
Conhecer: stress the second syllable ne, pronounced koh-nyeh-SER; the lh and nh are different but here you only need the nh sound in conhecer.
Common contractions and spoken forms
In casual Brazilian Portuguese you will hear shortened forms. Recognizing them helps comprehension.
Eu sei often becomes sei.
Eu não sei becomes não sei or nem sei in very casual speech to mean I don’t even know.
Você sabe becomes sabe? in quick questions, for example, Sabe onde fica? meaning Do you know where it is?
Contextual examples: real-life situations
Below are practical scenarios and phrases tailored to beginners in Brazil. Each includes typical short responses using saber or conhecer.
At a café
Barista: Você conhece o café da casa?
Customer: Não conheço. O que você recomenda?
On public transport
Rider: Você sabe se esse ônibus vai para a praia?
Passenger: Sei que esse ônibus vai até o centro, não até a praia.
At a language school
Student: Você sabe como praticar mais o listening?
Teacher: Sei alguns sites e podcasts para iniciantes.
Meeting new people
Person A: Prazer, sou a Ana.
Person B: Prazer em conhecer você, Ana.
Person A: Você conhece mais alguém da turma?
Responding politely when you do not know
Beginners often need polite ways to say I do not know. These are useful in customer service and formal contexts.
Sinto muito, eu não sei. Posso perguntar para alguém?
I am sorry, I do not know. May I ask someone?
Não sei, mas vou descobrir e te aviso.
I don’t know, but I will find out and let you know.
Key vocabulary and short list
saber — to know (facts, how to)
conhecer — to know (people, places, be familiar with)
sei — I know / I do know
não sei — I do not know / I don’t know
conheço — I know / I am familiar with
não conheço — I do not know / I am not familiar with
prazer em conhecer — nice to meet you
Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them
Confusing saber and conhecer is the most frequent error. A simple rule: use saber for information and skills; use conhecer for people and places.
Wrong: Eu sei o João to mean I know João. Correct: Eu conheço o João.
Wrong: Eu conheço cantar. Correct: Eu sei cantar meaning I know how to sing.
Another mistake is forgetting não for negatives. Remember negative sentences need não before the verb: Eu não sei, not Eu sei não.
Practice tips for beginner learners
Focus on short, usable sentences you will actually say or hear. Practice these sets aloud and try to use them in real interactions.
Make mini-dialogues with a friend or language partner using the phrases in this article.
Label places and people in your notes: write Eu conheço este lugar next to photos of cities you have visited, and Eu não conheço next to unfamiliar ones to build context memory.
Use flashcards with the verb on one side and example sentences on the other, focusing on the contrast between saber and conhecer.
Short self-test
Translate these into Brazilian Portuguese using the correct verb:
1. I know her name.
2. I do not know that answer.
3. Do you know how to cook?
4. I am familiar with this city.
Answers: 1. Eu conheço o nome dela. 2. Eu não sei essa resposta. 3. Você sabe cozinhar? 4. Eu conheço esta cidade.
Conclusion
Mastering the difference between saber and conhecer, and using eu sei and eu não sei in simple exchanges, gives you immediate practical power in Brazilian Portuguese. Practice the short dialogues, pay attention to casual contractions, and use the polite negative forms when needed. These building blocks make everyday communication clearer and boost confidence quickly.
