German · Everyday Verbs
"to know (a person or place)" in German: kennen
kennen
To know a person or place in German is kennen. Say Ich kenne sie or Kennst du Berlin?. For facts use wissen, not kennen.
At a party
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How to pronounce kennen
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KEN-en
/ˈkɛnən/
KEN-en. Short e. Soft -en.
"to know (a person or place)" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| kennen | to know (people/places) Core verb. | Core verb. |
| ich kenne / du kennst / er kennt | I/you/he know(s) Present. | Present. |
| kennengelernt | got to know / met From kennenlernen. | From kennenlernen. |
| bekannt | known / acquainted Related adjective. | Related adjective. |
How to use kennen in real life
- 1At a party
Kennst du den Typen dort?
Do you know that guy over there?
Kennst du for people.
- 2City talk
Ich kenne die Gegend gut.
I know the area well.
Places also take kennen.
- 3Introductions
Wir kennen uns von der Arbeit.
We know each other from work.
kennen + sich.
Mistakes English speakers make with kennen
Incorrect: Ich weiß Maria.
Correct: Ich kenne Maria.
People take kennen.
Incorrect: Ich kennst ihn.
Correct: Ich kenne ihn.
First person is ich kenne.
Good to know
Kennenlernen is the verb for meeting someone new. After that you can say Wir kennen uns. Germans may wait a while before calling someone a close Freund even if they kennen each other.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Spotting someone at a conference
ChatPal
Kennst du die Frau mit dem roten Schal?
Do you know the woman with the red scarf?
You
Ja, ich kenne sie aus Hamburg.
Yes, I know her from Hamburg.
ChatPal
Dann kennst du auch ihren Kollegen?
Then do you also know her colleague?
You
Nur vom Sehen.
Only by sight.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"to know (a person or place)" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to know (a person or place)" in German
How do you conjugate kennen?
Ich kenne, du kennst, er/sie/es kennt, wir kennen, ihr kennt, sie kennen.
What is the difference from wissen?
Kennen is familiarity with people and places; wissen is knowing facts.
How do you say nice to meet you?
Freut mich. / Angenehm.
What is kennenlernen?
To get to know / to meet someone.
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