Translation of German word "nennen" to English
nennen
/nɛnən/
Meaning
VerbTo give a name to.
How to use
The mixed verb nennen ('to call / name / mention') has irregular past forms: nennt, nannte, hat genannt. It governs a double accusative case when naming a person or thing (Er nennt mich einen Freund — He calls me a friend; both mich and Freund are in accusative).
🇬🇧 English
to name, to call
Example
Der alte Namen war seit Generationen in Familienbesitz.
The old name had been in the family for generations.
Your personal vocabulary
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Common phrases
- beim Namen nennen— to call by name / call a spade a spade (idiom)
- Namen nennen— to name names / mention names
- ein Beispiel nennen— to give / name an example
More Core Verbs words
This concept in other languages
📖 Related grammar
🦊 Conjugation of the verb "nennen"Full conjugation →
Present Tense (Präsens)
Simple Past (Präteritum)
Perfect (Perfekt)
ich bin/habe genannt
Imperative (Imperativ)
Frequency rank: #287 in German
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the definition of the German word "nennen"?▼
The German word "nennen" is defined as: "To give a name to."
What does the German word "nennen" mean?▼
The German word "nennen" means "to name, to call" in English.
How do you pronounce the German word "nennen"?▼
You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "nennen" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.
Can I see an example sentence with "nennen"?▼
Yes, here is a practical example: "Der alte Namen war seit Generationen in Familienbesitz." (which translates as "The old name had been in the family for generations.").
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