How do you say “to know” in German? “kennen” or “wissen”?
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How would you say in German:
“I know how you greet in German.”
Hey, you’re right, or maybe not :-), it’s:
Ich weiß, wie man auf Deutsch grüßt.
And how would you say:
“I know a cool bar in Berlin.”
Yeah, you got it, it’s:
“Ich kenne eine coole Kneipe in Berlin.”
For the same verb “to know” we use in German sometimes “kennen“, sometimes “wissen“.
This seems confusing right?!
Ich kenne einen sehr guten Deutschlehrer. (I know a good German teacher.)
Ich weiß, dass er in Berlin lebt. (I know that he lives in Berlin.)
Kennst du ihn auch? (Do you know him?)
Ja, ich weiß, wer er ist. (Yes, I know, who he is.)
Ich kenne auch seine Schule. (I know his school.)
Ich weiß, dass sie in Berlin ist. (I know, that it’s in Berlin.)
Why?
What’s the difference?
How to differentiate them?
When do we use kennen, when do we use wissen?
Let’s demystify this.
Kennen is more related to what you are familiar with.
Ich kenne einen Lehrer. (I know a teacher.)
Ich kenne ihn. (I know him.)
Ich kenne seinen Bruder. (I know his brother.)
Ich kenne seine Schule. (I know his school.)
Ich kenne Berlin sehr gut. (I know Berlin very good.)
Notice also that you refer to just one thing, a place or a person.
Ich kenne einen Lehrer.
Ich kenne ihn.
Ich kenne seinen Bruder.
Ich kenne seine Schule.
Ich kenne Berlin sehr gut.
Wissen, on the other hand, is more related to a knowledge of facts.
Ich weiß, dass er in Berlin lebt. (I know, that he lives in Berlin.)
Ich weiß, wer er ist. (I know, who he is.)
Ich weiß, wo Berlin ist. (I know, where Berlin is.)
Ich weiß seinen Namen nicht mehr. (I don’t know his name anymore.)
Notice also that “wissen” often times is used with a subclause that contains this knowledge and information.
Ich weiß, dass er in Berlin lebt.
Ich weiß, wer er ist.
Ich weiß, wo Berlin ist.
Ich weiß seinen Namen nicht mehr.
Any questions or struggle with this weird German language?
Head over to Ask Herr Professor and ask me any question with a quick voicemail (yes, stupid questions allowed :-)
Thank You!
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