Translation of German word "kennen" to English
kennen
/ˈkɛnən/
Meaning
VerbTo perceive the truth or factuality of; to be certain of; to be certain that.
How to use
The mixed verb kennen ('to know / be acquainted with / be familiar with') has irregular past forms: kannte, hat gekannt. Note: the source translation is 'to get to know / meet' (знакомиться), which is incorrect; kennen represents a static state of knowing someone or something, whereas the active process of getting to know/meeting someone is kennenlernen. It requires a direct object in the accusative case (Ich kenne ihn seit Jahren — I know him for years).
🇬🇧 English
to know
Example
Ich weiß, dass ich Recht habe und dass du Unrecht hast.
I know that I'm right and that you're wrong.
Er wusste, dass etwas Schreckliches passieren würde.
He knew something terrible was going to happen.
Your personal vocabulary
🦊 Use this word in a live AI conversationSynonyms
Common phrases
- jemanden persönlich kennen— to know someone personally
- sich kennen— to know each other / be acquainted (reflexive)
- kennenlernen— to get to know / meet (related active verb)
This concept in other languages
📖 Related grammar
🦊 Conjugation of the verb "kennen"Full conjugation →
Present Tense (Präsens)
Simple Past (Präteritum)
Perfect (Perfekt)
ich bin/kennt ...
Imperative (Imperativ)
Frequency rank: #181 in German
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the definition of the German word "kennen"?▼
The German word "kennen" is defined as: "To perceive the truth or factuality of; to be certain of; to be certain that."
What does the German word "kennen" mean?▼
The German word "kennen" means "to know" in English.
How do you pronounce the German word "kennen"?▼
You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "kennen" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.
Can I see an example sentence with "kennen"?▼
Yes, here is a practical example: "Man kennt sich seit Jahren." (which translates as "I know that I'm right and that you're wrong.").
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