The German verbs wissen and verstehen both relate to knowledge, but they have different meanings and uses. wissen means "to know" factual information, while verstehen means "to understand" or "comprehend" something. This distinction applies similarly in English, where "to know" is about having information, and "to understand" is about grasping meaning or concepts. Here’s a detailed look at the difference with examples.
Wissen: "to know" (facts, information)
- Wissen is used to express knowledge of facts, information, or data.
- It is usually followed by a dass clause, a question word (wo, wer, wie, etc.), or an infinitive.
- wissen is a modal, irregular verb and is always used with a subject who possesses explicit knowledge.
- It does not mean understanding or comprehension, just awareness of something.
Usage
- Wissen Sie, wo der Bahnhof ist? (Do you know where the train station is?)
- Ich weiß, dass er morgen kommt. (I know that he’s coming tomorrow.)
- Sie weiß Französisch. (She knows French.)
- Wer weiß die Antwort? (Who knows the answer?)
Summary
- wissen = to know factual information or be aware of something
Verstehen: "to understand" (comprehension)
- Verstehen means to grasp meaning, comprehend, or make sense of something.
- It can be used with objects directly (Ich verstehe dich) or followed by an -en infinitive or a clause.
- It implies mental processing and can also mean “to get” or “to catch” something in more colloquial contexts.
- If you verstehen something, you are not just aware of it—you can explain it, respond to it, or use it meaningfully.
Usage
- Verstehst du Deutsch? (Do you understand German?)
- Ich verstehe nicht, warum er sauer ist. (I don’t understand why he’s angry.)
- Wir müssen den Text erst verstehen, bevor wir ihn übersetzen. (We have to understand the text before we translate it.)
- Verstehst du, was ich meine? (Do you understand what I mean?)
Summary
- verstehen = to comprehend, grasp, or make sense of something
Common Confusions and Combinations
- You wissen something “in theory” (Sie weiß, dass 2+2=4), but you verstehen how it works (Sie versteht, warum 2+2=4).
- kennen is another German verb that means “to know” in the sense of being familiar with a person, place, or thing. It is different from both wissen and verstehen.
Examples
- Ich kenne diesen Mann. (I know this man — I am familiar with him.)
- Ich weiß, dass er Arzt ist. (I know that he is a doctor.)
- Ich verstehe, warum er Arzt geworden ist. (I understand why he became a doctor.)
Summary
- wissen = to know (facts, information)
- verstehen = to understand (comprehension)
- Use wissen for factual knowledge, and verstehen for grasping meaning or concepts.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
