In German, the concept of "to know" is expressed by two distinct verbs: wissen and kennen. This distinction is crucial for correct usage:
- Wissen: Used for knowing facts, information, or "that"-clauses.
- Kennen: Used for being familiar with or acquainted with people, places, or things.
wissen
Use kennen for familiarity or acquaintance.
Wissen: Knowing Facts and Information
Wissen expresses knowledge of facts, information, or anything you can state, explain, or prove—basically, anything "you know that..." (dass). It is a regular verb in the present tense but is irregular in other tenses.
- Use wissen for concrete knowledge or information.
- Commonly used with subordinate clauses (dass..., ob..., wo..., wann...).
- Conjugates: ich weiß, du weißt, er/sie/es weiß, wir wissen, ihr wisst, sie/Sie wissen.
Examples of Wissen
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Ich weiß die Antwort. | I know the answer. |
| Weißt du, wo er wohnt? | Do you know where he lives? |
| Wir wissen, dass Deutsch schwer ist. | We know that German is difficult. |
Use wissen for factual knowledge, like a phone number.
Sie wissen, dass die Erde rund ist.
Kennen: Being Familiar or Acquainted
Kennen is used when you are familiar with or have personal experience of people, places, or things. It is like "to be acquainted with" or "to know someone/something personally."
- Use kennen for relationships or familiarity.
- Not used for facts or information.
- Conjugates like a regular verb: ich kenne, du kennst, er/sie/es kennt, wir kennen, ihr kennt, sie/Sie kennen.
Examples of Kennen
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Ich kenne diesen Mann. | I know (am familiar with) this man. |
| Kennst du Berlin? | Do you know (are you familiar with) Berlin? |
| Wir kennen uns seit fünf Jahren. | We have known each other for five years. |
Use 'kennen' for familiarity, such as meeting someone.
'Kennen' is correct for familiarity with a film or a person, not for facts.
Summary
- Use wissen for factual knowledge and information.
- Use kennen for personal familiarity or acquaintance.
- Don't interchange them, as it changes the meaning.
'kennen' is only for knowing people or being familiar, not for facts.
Use 'kennen' when referring to people.
'wissen' is for facts; 'kennen' is for familiarity; 'knowing how' uses other verbs.
Ich kenne sie.
Wir wissen viel über Geschichte.