kennen
/ˈkɛnən/
To know in German is expressed as kennen. Wiktionary also lists wüsse.
Meaning: be acquainted or familiar with (verb)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| kennen | /ˈkɛnən/ (Germany) /ˈkɛnɛn/ (Austria, Southern Germany, Switzerland) |
|
| wüsse | Alemannic German |
The verb kennen is used when you are acquainted or familiar with a person, a place or a thing through experience.
Which one should you use?
It is important to distinguish between kennen and wissen. Use kennen when you are acquainted with a person, place or thing. In contrast, use wissen when you know a specific fact, a piece of information or a truth.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The form wüsse is used in Alemannic German dialects instead of the standard high German forms.
How does it change in a sentence?
The third-person singular present tense form of kennen is kennt.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkɛnən/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use kennen for facts, such as saying 'I know that he is coming' when they should use wissen instead.
Did you know?
- The English word 'ken' as in 'beyond my ken' is a direct relative of the German verb kennen.
- Kennen is closely related to the word bekannt, which means 'known' or 'famous'. This root is used to describe anyone who is 'well-known' to the public.
- Because kennen is used for familiarity, Germans use it to describe knowing a song or a book. Using wissen in these cases would incorrectly imply you know a specific fact about the book rather than being familiar with the work itself.
Examples in context
- Kennen Sie Tom gut?Do you know Tom well?This sentence is useful for asking if someone is well acquainted with a person using kennen.Tatoeba #1066919 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #1066909 by CK
- Sie kennen den Weg.They know the way.This sentence is useful for stating that someone is familiar with a way using kennen.Tatoeba #12084730 by mayabe, translation #11720966 by LdjuherTaqvaylit
- Muss ich ihn kennen?Do I have to know him?This sentence is useful for asking if it is necessary to be acquainted with a person using kennen.Tatoeba #3586444 by al_ex_an_der, translation #3586449 by Eldad
- Ich weiß, dass Sie recht haben.I know you are right.
- Wissen Sie, wo der Bahnhof ist?Do you know where the train station is?
- Ich habe Kenntnis von Ihrem Anliegen.I have knowledge of your concern.
- Er hat Kenntnis von vielen verschiedenen Kulturen.He has knowledge of many different cultures.
- Wissen wir, ob er kommen kann?Do we know if he can come?
- Ich kenne diese Stadt sehr gut.I know this city very well.
- Kennst du den Weg zur Bibliothek?Do you know the way to the library?
- 742 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hannah and Felix are talking about a new colleague.
- HannahKennst du den neuen Kollegen?Do you know the new colleague?
- FelixNein, ich kenne ihn noch nicht.No, I don't know him yet.
- HannahEr ist sehr nett.He is very nice.
- FelixDann muss ich ihn bald kennenlernen.Then I must get to know him soon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “know” translations and entries kennen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kennen, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
