German word

kennen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈkɛnən/

Meaning

  • verbknow

Example

Ich kenne dich.

I know you.

Illustration for kennen (know)

More examples

Ich kenne seinen Namen.

I know his name.

Core concept

A familiar face or thing that experience makes recognizable and personally known.

Common phrases

  • kennen jemanden

    know someone

  • ein Wort kennen

    know a word

  • den Namen kennen

    know the name

Similar words

wissen: Possession of factual information that can be recalled or stated.
kennenlernen: The act of becoming acquainted with someone through a first meeting or conversation.
erkennen: The ability to identify someone or something through sight or sound.

Definition in German

Jemanden oder etwas aufgrund persönlicher Begegnung oder Erfahrung kennen.

Word origin

Kennen is inherited from Old High German kennen and belongs to the Germanic word family related to English ken and know.

Usage tips

  • Kennen takes an accusative object, as in "Ich kenne dich," while wissen normally introduces a fact or piece of information.

Other meanings

  • be acquainted withverb

Related words

Word lists with this word