German word

kennenlernen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈkɛnənˌlɛɐ̯nən/

Meaning

  • verbget to know ___, get to know

Example

Morgen lerne ich eine neue Kollegin kennen.

Tomorrow I'll get to know a new colleague.

Illustration for kennenlernen (get to know ___)

More examples

Auf dem Spielplatz lernt Mia ein neues Kind kennen.

At the playground, Mia gets to know a new child.

Beim Sprachkurs möchte ich neue Leute kennenlernen.

At the language course, I would like to get to know new people.

Core concept

A name and a few first impressions gradually become personal familiarity.

Common phrases

  • neue Leute kennenlernen

    get to know new people

  • eine neue Kollegin kennenlernen

    get to know a new colleague

  • jemanden näher kennenlernen

    get to know someone better

Similar words

kennen: To already know a person or thing.
treffen: To meet someone and come face to face.
sich vorstellen: To introduce oneself by sharing a name or occupation.
begegnen: To encounter a person or thing by chance.

Definition in German

eine Person neu oder genauer kennenlernen und so allmählich mehr über sie erfahren

Word origin

The compound verb kennenlernen joins kennen, 'know', and lernen, 'learn', for the process of becoming acquainted with someone.

Usage tips

  • The reflexive form sich kennenlernen means that two or more people get to know one another, while kennenlernen can take the person as its object.

Other meanings

  • meetverb
  • get acquainted with ___verb

Related words

Word lists with this word