savoir vs maîtriser
French word comparison
Listen to savoir
Listen to maîtriser
| savoir | maîtriser |
|---|---|
/sa-VWAHR/ verb | /[mɛ.tʁi.ze]/ verb |
| to know; to know how to do something | to master; to have a strong command of |
How they differ
Maîtriser is stronger than savoir and suggests a high level of skill or control. Savoir can mean basic ability or knowledge, while maîtriser implies real competence, often after practice.
When to use each
When to use savoir: Prefer savoir when you simply mean that someone knows how to do something.
When to use maîtriser: Prefer maîtriser when you want to emphasize advanced command, skill, or complete control.
Side-by-side examples
- Je sais cuisiner un peu.
(I know how to cook a little.) - Elle maîtrise parfaitement la cuisine française.
(She has complete command of French cooking.)
Register & nuance: Maîtriser is neutral to fairly formal and is common in professional, academic, and skill-based contexts.