Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| wenn | /vɛn/ |
| sobald | /zoˈbalt/ |
In a temporal or conditional sense, wenn is used as a conjunction to mean 'when' or 'if'.
Which one should you use?
While wenn serves as a conjunction for 'when', sobald is used specifically to mean 'as soon as', emphasizing that an action happens immediately after another. Additionally, the word wann is used only for questions or indirect questions regarding a specific point in time, whereas wenn is the conjunction used for the 'when' part of a sentence.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When wenn is used as a subordinating conjunction, the conjugated verb moves to the end of the clause.
How do you pronounce it?
/vɛn/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use wann as a conjunction (for example, saying 'I'll tell you when I see you'). In German, wann is strictly for questions and you should use wenn for the conjunction instead.
Did you know?
- If you want to say 'when' regarding a single, one-time event in the past, you should use als instead of wenn.
- When using wenn in a conditional sense, Germans often use the subjunctive mood (Konjunktiv II) to show that the 'when' is purely hypothetical.
- The word wenn is related to the Old High German hwanne, which shares a common ancestor with the English word 'when'.
Examples in context
- Ich esse, wenn du ißt.I'll eat when you eat.Tatoeba #12603987 by Waldelfe, translation #10576488 by CK
- Komm, wenn's dir passt.Come when it suits you.Tatoeba #1431234 by Vortarulo, translation #11855728 by sundown
- Wenn nicht jetzt, wann?If not now, then when?Tatoeba #4854379 by Hippocrates, translation #1256992 by CK
- Wann kommst du zur Party?When are you coming to the party?
- Wann fängt der Film an?When does the film start?
- Zu welchem Zeitpunkt müssen wir uns treffen?At which time do we need to meet?
- Zu welchem Zeitpunkt sollte ich anrufen?At what time should I call?
- Wann gehst du nach Hause?When are you going home?
- Wann treffen wir uns morgen?When are we meeting tomorrow?
- Wann denn genau?When exactly?
- Wann denn endlich Feierabend?When will you finally finish work?
- Wann triffst du deine Freundin?When are you meeting your friend?
- Was machst du, wenn du fertig bist?What will you do when you're done?
- Wann gehst du ins Kino? Am Abend oder nachmittags?When are you going to the cinema? In the evening or in the afternoon?
- 2734 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Felix and Laura are discussing their plans for the afternoon.
- FelixWann kommst du heute nach Hause?When are you coming home today?
- LauraIch komme, wenn mein Meeting zu Ende ist.I'll come when my meeting is over.
- FelixRuf mich an, wenn du bereit bist.Call me when you are ready.
- LauraAlles klar, ich mache das.All right, I will do that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “when” translations and entries wenn, sobald, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries wenn, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
