connaître/kɔ.nɛtʁ/
verb · A2 · Frequency 175
verb
Meanings
to know; to be familiar with
Used for people, places, facts, or things.
to experience; to go through
Often takes abstract nouns such as hardship, success, or hunger.
to have sexual relations with
Typically euphemistic or literary.
to hear or judge legally; to have jurisdiction over
Used in legal contexts.
Examples
Je voudrais connaître les règles avant de commencer le projet.
I would like to know the rules before starting the project.
Elle aimerait connaître la ville avant d'y installer son entreprise.
She would like to become familiar with the city before setting up her company there.
Après plusieurs années difficiles, la région espère connaître une reprise économique.
After several difficult years, the region hopes to experience an economic recovery.
Le tribunal administratif est compétent pour connaître des recours contre cette décision.
The administrative court has jurisdiction to hear appeals against this decision.
Collocations
- connaître une personneto know a person
- connaître des difficultésto experience difficulties
- connaître une affaireto hear a case
Common mistakes
Je connait bien Paris.
Je connais bien Paris.
The first-person singular present of connaître is the irregular form connais, not the third-person form connaît; the subject je requires connais.
Related words
antonymignorerto ignore
Grammar note
Connaître can use either avoir or être as auxiliary verb in compound tenses; it can be used as a transitive verb or as a pronominal verb.
verb
Meanings
to know; to be familiar with
Used for people, places, facts, or things.
to experience; to go through
Often takes abstract nouns such as hardship, success, or hunger.
to have sexual relations with
Typically euphemistic or literary.
to hear or judge legally; to have jurisdiction over
Used in legal contexts.
Examples
Connaissant déjà la ville, elle a proposé un itinéraire simple.
Already familiar with the city, she suggested a simple itinerary.
Connaissant bien le sujet, Karim a répondu sans hésiter.
Knowing the subject well, Karim answered without hesitation.
Connaissant une période difficile, l'entreprise a réduit ses dépenses.
Going through a difficult period, the company cut its expenses.
Connaissant plusieurs changements de direction, le service a appris à rester flexible.
Having gone through several changes in leadership, the department learned to remain flexible.
Grammar note
Connaître can use either avoir or être as auxiliary verb in compound tenses; it can be used as a transitive verb or as a pronominal verb.
verb
Meanings
to know; to be familiar with
Used for people, places, facts, or things.
to experience; to go through
Often takes abstract nouns such as hardship, success, or hunger.
to have sexual relations with
Typically euphemistic or literary.
to hear or judge legally; to have jurisdiction over
Used in legal contexts.
Examples
J'ai connu ce quartier avant sa rénovation.
I knew this neighborhood before it was renovated.
Nous avons connu une longue période de sécheresse.
We went through a long period of drought.
Avant son mariage, elle n'avait connu qu'un seul partenaire.
Before her marriage, she had had sexual relations with only one partner.
Le tribunal a connu de cette affaire en première instance.
The court heard this case at first instance.
Collocations
- connaître une personneto know a person
- connaître des difficultésto experience difficulties
- connaître une affaireto hear a case
Common mistakes
Je connait bien Paris.
Je connais bien Paris.
The first-person singular present of connaître is the irregular form connais, not the third-person form connaît; the subject je requires connais.
Related words
antonymignorerto ignore
Grammar note
Connaître can use either avoir or être as auxiliary verb in compound tenses; it can be used as a transitive verb or as a pronominal verb.
verb
Meanings
to know; to be familiar with
Used for people, places, facts, or things.
to experience; to go through
Often takes abstract nouns such as hardship, success, or hunger.
to have sexual relations with
Typically euphemistic or literary.
to hear or judge legally; to have jurisdiction over
Used in legal contexts.
Examples
Je connais bien ce quartier depuis mon enfance.
I have known this neighborhood well since childhood.
Je connais actuellement une période de grande incertitude.
I am currently going through a period of great uncertainty.
Dans ce récit ancien, je connais charnellement cette femme.
In this ancient story, I have sexual relations with this woman.
En tant que juge, je connais de cette affaire.
As a judge, I have jurisdiction over this case.
Collocations
- connaître une personneto know a person
- connaître des difficultésto experience difficulties
- connaître une affaireto hear a case
Common mistakes
Je connait bien Paris.
Je connais bien Paris.
The first-person singular present of connaître is the irregular form connais, not the third-person form connaît; the subject je requires connais.
Related words
antonymignorerto ignore
Grammar note
Connaître can use either avoir or être as auxiliary verb in compound tenses; it can be used as a transitive verb or as a pronominal verb.