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Conhecer vs. encontrar

Word practice demo
While both conhecer and encontrar can be translated as to meet in English, they are not interchangeable. Conhecer is about getting to know someone or something, often for the first time, while encontrar refers to the physical act of meeting up with someone or finding something.

Conhecer

A1
Conhecer means to meet someone for the very first time, to get to know them, or to be familiar with a person, place, or concept. It implies a process of gaining knowledge, experience, or acquaintance.
Foi um prazer conhecer você.
(It was a pleasure to meet you.)
Nós nos conhecemos na festa de aniversário do Pedro.
(We met at Pedro's birthday party.)
Você conhece o novo diretor da empresa?
(Do you know the new company director?)
Eu conheço Paris como a palma da minha mão.
(I know Paris like the back of my hand.)
Ele quer conhecer a culinária japonesa.
(He wants to get to know Japanese cuisine.)
Ela conhece os riscos envolvidos no projeto.
(She is aware of (knows) the risks involved in the project.)

Encontrar

A1
Encontrar means to physically meet up with someone (either by plan or by chance), to run into someone, or to find a person or an object. It focuses on the specific event of the meeting or the act of discovery.
Vamos nos encontrar no cinema às 20h.
(Let's meet at the cinema at 8 PM.)
Eu encontrei minha antiga professora no supermercado ontem.
(I ran into my old teacher at the supermarket yesterday.)
Não consigo encontrar as chaves do meu carro.
(I can't find my car keys.)
Finalmente encontrei o livro que estava procurando.
(I finally found the book I was looking for.)
Eles se encontram toda semana para estudar juntos.
(They meet every week to study together.)
O explorador encontrou uma cidade perdida na selva.
(The explorer found a lost city in the jungle.)

Summary

In essence, use conhecer for the introduction to a person or the familiarity with a concept, person or place. Use encontrar for the event of meeting up with someone you already know, running into someone by chance, or the act of finding something.