01
kennen
to know
To be familiar with a person, place, or thing through personal experience or encounter.
example
Ich kenne diese Stadt sehr gut, weil ich hier aufgewachsen bin.
I know this city very well because I grew up here.
kennen
to know
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
01 / 02
Usage tips
Accusative object
The verb 'kennen' (to know) always needs a direct object in the accusative. You ask 'Wen oder was kenne ich?' (Whom or what do I know?). A person or thing you are familiar with therefore always appears in the accusative.
EXAMPLE
Kennen Sie diesen Film schon?
Do you already know this film?
Word family
'Kennen' (to know) is the basis for other important words. If you 'kennst' (know) someone or something, that person or thing is 'bekannt' (known/familiar). The knowledge you have as a result is called 'die Kenntnis' (knowledge).
EXAMPLE
Er hat sehr gute Kenntnisse in diesem Bereich.
He has very good knowledge in this area.
Typical collocations
When referring to familiarity through experience, 'kennen' (to know) is often used with people, places, or concrete things. Typical phrases are: jemanden gut kennen (to know someone well), den Weg kennen (to know the way), eine Gegend kennen (to know an area).
EXAMPLE
Er kennt den Weg zum Bahnhof auswendig.
He knows the way to the train station by heart.
Abstract concepts
'Kennen' (to know) is also used for abstract things such as feelings, situations, or problems. It then means that you have experienced something like that before. Typical phrases are: das Problem kennen (to know the problem), dieses Gefühl kennen (to know this feeling), die Situation kennen (to know the situation).
EXAMPLE
Ich kenne das Problem, ich hatte es letztes Jahr auch.
I know the problem; I had it last year too.
Compare with
kennen vs können
to be able to
'können' and 'kennen' look similar, but they do not mean the same thing. 'können' is used for abilities, learned knowledge, or something you have mastered. 'kennen' is used when you are familiar with a person, a place, a thing, or a situation. The words are easy to confuse because both can have to do with knowledge. A practical tip: you can 'können' a language or a task; you 'kennen' a person, a place, or a problem.
kennen
Er kennt den Verkäufer im Supermarkt schon seit vielen Jahren.
He has known the salesperson at the supermarket for many years.
können
Samir kann in der Pause schon die neuen Wörter ohne Hilfe lesen.
During the break, Samir can already read the new words without help.
In real life
Loading video examples...