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Both can translate as 'conocer', but one is the first encounter and the other is ongoing familiarity.
Side-by-side comparison
"Meet" is to encounter someone for the first time: the moment of first introduction. "I met her at a conference" = I was introduced to her at a conference for the first time.
I met my best friend in college.
Nice to meet you!
Where did you two meet?
"Know" is to be acquainted with someone through ongoing familiarity. "I know her well" = I have an established relationship with her and am familiar with who she is.
Do you know her? She is my sister.
I have known him for over ten years.
She knows everyone in this neighborhood.
Common mistake
- •"I knew him yesterday" when you encountered him for the first time is wrong: the first contact is "met" (past of meet).
- •"Knew" implies a pre-existing relationship.
Trick to remember it
- •"Meet" = first contact, the moment of introduction.
- •"Know" = ongoing relationship, already in your life.
- •First time? "I met him." Already in your life? "I know him."
Quick rule
- •Is it the first encounter? "Meet".
- •Is there already a relationship or familiarity? "Know".
Did you know?
"Meet" is for the moment you first become acquainted; "know" is for the relationship that follows. "Nice to meet you" is said once, at the first encounter. After that, "I know her" is the right form. Mixing them gives odd results: "I know her yesterday" is wrong, and so is "I met her for years". A good check: if you can attach a moment ("yesterday", "at the party"), use "meet"; if you mean lasting familiarity, use "know".
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
I've lived in this city for years but I still don't _____ many people here.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
We first _____ at a birthday party about three years ago.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Related word pairs
One is recalling something yourself, the other is making someone else recall it.
"Above" is at a higher level without contact; "over" implies covering, movement, or crossing.
'Currently' means 'at the present time'; 'actually' means 'in reality', not 'nowadays'.
"Actually" corrects or contrasts an assumption; "really" intensifies or confirms.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy