You use know-how when you can do something. If you can cook, you have cooking know-how. It is a very useful word for talking about your skills.
When you have the know-how, you have the ability to finish a task. It is common to say 'I have the know-how to do this' when you are confident in your work.
Know-how refers to the practical knowledge needed for a job. It is often used in business to talk about how a company operates or how a person completes a difficult project.
Using know-how adds a professional touch to your vocabulary. It suggests that you don't just understand the theory, but you also possess the hands-on experience required to succeed in a specific domain.
In advanced contexts, know-how represents a form of tacit knowledge that is difficult to codify. It is the 'art' of doing something, distinguishing the expert from the novice through nuanced, experiential application of skill.
The term know-how occupies a significant space in legal and economic discourse, particularly regarding intellectual property. It refers to the proprietary, non-patented knowledge that gives a firm a competitive advantage, reflecting a deep, culturally embedded understanding of craft.
know how en 30 segundos
- Practical skill.
- Noun form.
- Uncountable.
- Professional.
When you have the know-how, you have the secret sauce to get things done! It is more than just book smarts; it is the practical ability to handle a situation or a machine.
Think of it as the difference between reading a manual and actually being able to fix the engine. If you have the know-how, you can turn theory into action.
The term know-how emerged in the early 19th century as a way to describe practical knowledge. It comes from the simple combination of the verb know and the adverb how.
By the 20th century, it became a standard business term for intellectual property and technical expertise. It highlights that true skill is about understanding the process, not just the result.
You will often hear know-how used in professional settings, such as 'technical know-how' or 'marketing know-how.' It is a noun, so we usually use it with 'the' or a possessive pronoun.
While it sounds professional, it is also common in casual conversation. You might say, 'She has the know-how to fix that leaky sink,' which is a great compliment to someone's skills.
1. To have the know-how: To possess the required skill. Example: He has the know-how to run the company.
2. Technical know-how: Expertise in machines or software. Example: We need more technical know-how on this team.
3. Practical know-how: Real-world experience. Example: Experience provides the best practical know-how.
4. Lack the know-how: To not know how to do something. Example: I lack the know-how to code.
5. Industry know-how: Insider knowledge. Example: She brings years of industry know-how.
Know-how is an uncountable noun. You don't say 'two know-hows'; you just say 'a lot of know-how.'
The stress is usually on the first syllable: KNOW-how. It rhymes with 'show now' or 'go now.' It is a compound word often hyphenated when used as a noun.
Dato curioso
It became a buzzword in the 1940s.
Guía de pronunciación
- Pronouncing 'know' as 'k-now'
- Ignoring the hyphen pause
- Misplacing stress
Nivel de dificultad
Easy
Easy
Easy
Easy
Qué aprender después
Requisitos previos
Aprende después
Avanzado
Gramática que debes saber
Compound Nouns
know-how
Ejemplos por nivel
I have the know-how to bake.
I have the skill to bake.
Noun usage.
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He has the know-how to fix it.
Do you have the know-how?
She lacks the know-how.
It takes know-how.
We need more know-how.
The team has great know-how.
I gained the know-how.
Show me the know-how.
Technical know-how is essential.
He lacks the necessary know-how.
She has the know-how to lead.
Building this takes know-how.
They shared their know-how.
Experience gives you know-how.
Do you have the marketing know-how?
It is a matter of know-how.
The company relies on its technical know-how.
She has the know-how to navigate the system.
Without the right know-how, you will fail.
He demonstrated his know-how in the meeting.
We are looking for someone with industry know-how.
It requires a specific type of know-how.
The project failed due to a lack of know-how.
He has the know-how to solve complex problems.
The transfer of technical know-how is critical for development.
She possesses the requisite know-how to manage the crisis.
His deep know-how makes him an invaluable asset.
The firm's success is built on proprietary know-how.
We need to bridge the gap in our team's know-how.
The artistic know-how required for this is rare.
He has the know-how to influence the market.
They lack the operational know-how to scale.
The acquisition included both patents and valuable know-how.
Her pedagogical know-how is evident in her teaching.
The nuances of the craft require years of know-how.
Such specialized know-how is not easily replicated.
The legal dispute centered on the protection of know-how.
He has the strategic know-how to navigate global politics.
The secret lies in the company's unique know-how.
They are trading their technical know-how for market access.
Colocaciones comunes
Modismos y expresiones
"know the ropes"
To know how to do a job.
He knows the ropes.
casual"know the drill"
To know the procedure.
We know the drill.
casual"know one's stuff"
To be an expert.
She knows her stuff.
casual"know the score"
To know the situation.
He knows the score.
casual"know inside out"
To know something perfectly.
I know it inside out.
neutral"know the ins and outs"
To know all details.
He knows the ins and outs.
neutralFácil de confundir
Both relate to knowing.
Knowledge is facts; know-how is skill.
He has knowledge of history; he has the know-how to paint.
Patrones de oraciones
I have the know-how to [verb]
I have the know-how to fix it.
Familia de palabras
Sustantivos
Verbos
Adjetivos
Relacionado
Cómo usarlo
7
-
Using as a verb
→
Using as a noun
Know-how is a noun, not a verb.
-
Pluralizing
→
Know-how
It is uncountable.
-
Missing 'the'
→
The know-how
Needs an article.
-
Confusing with 'how to'
→
Know-how
Know-how is the ability; how to is the action.
-
Using 'knowhow' as two words without hyphen
→
Know-how
Standard spelling uses a hyphen.
Consejos
Use it for skills
Always use it for practical skills.
Don't pluralize
Keep it singular.
Stress the first
KNOW-how.
Use in a sentence
Write a sentence daily.
French connection
Similar to savoir-faire.
Avoid verb usage
It is not a verb.
Think of tools
Tools = know-how.
Business context
Use in reports.
Flashcards
Use for vocabulary.
Say it slowly
Know-how.
Memorízalo
Mnemotecnia
KNOW the HOW.
Asociación visual
A person fixing a clock.
Word Web
Desafío
Explain a skill you have.
Origen de la palabra
English
Significado original: Ability to do something.
Contexto cultural
None.
Common in business and DIY culture.
Practica en la vida real
Contextos reales
Work
- Technical know-how
- Business know-how
- Project know-how
Inicios de conversación
"What is your best know-how?"
"Do you have the know-how to cook?"
Temas para diario
Describe a skill you have.
Why is know-how important?
Preguntas frecuentes
8 preguntasNo, it is a noun.
No.
It is neutral.
Expertise.
K-n-o-w-h-y-p-h-e-n-h-o-w.
Yes.
Yes.
It means practical knowledge.
Ponte a prueba
I have the ___ to cook.
Know-how means skill.
Which means skill?
Know-how is a skill.
Know-how is a verb.
It is a noun.
Word
Significado
Synonyms match.
Subject-verb-object.
Puntuación: /5
Summary
Know-how is the practical ability to get things done.
- Practical skill.
- Noun form.
- Uncountable.
- Professional.
Use it for skills
Always use it for practical skills.
Don't pluralize
Keep it singular.
Stress the first
KNOW-how.
Use in a sentence
Write a sentence daily.
Ejemplo
Do you know how to fix a broken computer?
Contenido relacionado
Esta palabra en otros idiomas
Más palabras de general
a lot of
A2Significa que tienes una gran cantidad de algo. Es una forma muy común de decir que hay mucho.
about
A1'About' se usa para decir de qué trata algo o para indicar una aproximación.
above
A2Indica una posición más alta que otra cosa, justo encima.
accident
A2Algo malo que pasa de repente y puede causar daño.
action
A2Es el proceso de hacer algo, generalmente para lograr un objetivo.
after
A2'After' significa que algo sucede después de otra cosa, ya sea en tiempo o en lugar.
afterward
A2At a later or subsequent time.
again
A2'Again' significa que algo sucede una vez más, que se repite.
aged
B1Se usa para indicar la edad de alguien o algo en un momento dado.
alive
A2Algo que tiene vida y no ha muerto.
