German word

wann

Pronunciation

IPA/van/

Meaning

  • adverbwhen

Example

Sag mir, wann du Zeit hast.

Tell me when you have time.

Illustration for wann (when)

More examples

Bis wann willst du bleiben?

Until when do you want to stay?

Core concept

A point on a time line marked by a question, covering both an exact moment and an approximate period.

Common phrases

  • Bis wann

    until when

  • Seit wann

    since when

Similar words

wenn: A conjunction introducing a condition or hypothetical situation.
als: A conjunction marking when a single past event took place.
wie lange: A phrase used to ask how long an event or state lasts.
seit wann: A phrase used to ask when an event or state began.

Definition in German

Wann ist ein Frageadverb zur Bestimmung eines Zeitpunkts oder einer ungefähren Zeitangabe und wird sowohl in direkten Fragen als auch in indirekten Fragesätzen verwendet.

Word origin

German wann continues a West Germanic time-question word related to English when, with the same basic function of asking about time.

Usage tips

  • Unlike wenn, wann asks about time in direct or indirect questions, while wenn introduces a condition or a repeated time clause.

Other meanings

  • what timeadverb

Related words

Word lists with this word