Ich weiß
/ɪç vaɪ̯s/word by word
The English phrase "I know" is translated into German as Ich weiß.
Ich weiß is used to express an assertion that the speaker possesses an answer, a piece of information or an idea. You can also use the phrase Ich weiß Bescheid to mean that you are aware or informed about a situation.
Meaning: assertion that speaker has answer or idea (phrase)
Which one should you use?
There is an important distinction between Ich weiß and Ich kenne. Use Ich weiß when you are referring to facts, information or knowledge. In contrast, use Ich kenne when you are expressing familiarity with a person, a place or a specific object.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Bavarian dialect, you may hear I kenn's to mean "I know it".
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the past tense ("I knew"), use the form Ich wusste.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɪç vaɪ̯s/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using Ich kenne when you intend to say you know a fact. In these instances, you should use Ich weiß instead.
Did you know?
- The verb wissen is used for facts, but if you 'know' how to do something, like ride a bike, German uses the word können, which means 'to be able to'.
- The word weiß in Ich weiß comes from the same root as the English word 'white'.
- Saying Ich weiß in response to a command can sometimes sound dismissive or arrogant in German, similar to saying 'I'm aware' in English.
Examples in context
- Ja, ich weiß es.Yes, I know it.This example shows how to use Ich weiß to confirm knowledge of a specific thing.Tatoeba #6643367 by Felixjp, translation #433589 by CK
- Ich weiß zu viel.I know too much.This example demonstrates using Ich weiß to express knowing an excessive amount of information.Tatoeba #4461954 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2376251 by CK
- Ich weiß von Tom.I know about Tom.This example shows the use of Ich weiß to indicate knowledge regarding a person.Tatoeba #6643827 by Felixjp, translation #2261958 by CK
- Haben Sie Informationen über das Projekt? – Ja, ich bin darüber im Bilde.Do you have information about the project? – Yes, I know about it.
- Können Sie mir bei diesem Thema helfen? – Nicht nötig, ich bin informiert.Can you assist me with this topic? – Not necessary, I know about it.
- 2827 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Felix and Hannah are discussing where they left the car keys.
- FelixWo sind die Schlüssel?Where are the keys?
- HannahIch weiß es nicht.I don't know.
- FelixIch weiß, wo sie liegen.I know where they are lying.
- HannahOh, sag es mir bitte!Oh, please tell me!
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (Ich, weiß) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Ich, ich, weiß, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
