kennen
Mixed Verb (Gemischtes Verb) Level A1 ⭐ #29 Most CommonEnglish translation: to know (be acquainted with)
Present (Präsens)
Knowing/familiar now.
| Subject Pronoun | Conjugation | Audio |
|---|---|---|
| ich | kenne | |
| du | kennst | |
| er/sie/es | kennt | |
| wir | kennen | |
| ihr | kennt | |
| sie/Sie | kennen |
🎴 Flashcard Practice Mode
Flip through pronouns to test active recall for 'kennen'
Tap anywhere to reveal conjugation ↻
Tap to flip back
Keyboard shortcuts: Space to flip • ← / → arrow keys to switch
Frequently Asked Questions: KENNEN
Is "kennen" a regular or irregular verb in German? ▾
"kennen" is classified as a Mixed Verb (Gemischtes Verb) verb in German. Its characteristic conjugation pattern is "Regular present / Vowel change + -te in past (kannte, gekannt)". A mixed verb: takes weak endings (-te, -t) but changes stem vowel: kennen -> kannte -> gekannt. Use 'kennen' for people, places, and things you are familiar with. Use 'wissen' for factual knowledge.
What does "kennen" mean in English? ▾
In English, "kennen" translates primarily to "to know (be acquainted with)". In natural speech, it is commonly used across CEFR level A1 contexts for everyday communication.
What is the most frequent mistake learners make with "kennen"? ▾
A frequent error is saying "Ich weiß Peter" instead of "Ich kenne Peter". Why? To know a person, German always uses 'kennen', never 'wissen'.
What are common idioms or expressions with "kennen"? ▾
A popular idiom is "Kein Pardon kennen" which means "To show no mercy / tolerate no excuses" (e.g. "Bei Verspätungen kennt der Chef kein Pardon.").
How can I practice and memorize "kennen" conjugations? ▾
Use Verbpedia's built-in interactive flashcards, pronounce each form using native Web Speech audio, and complete the instant mini-quiz below. You can also print a distraction-free A4 cheat sheet using the Print button above.
Struggling with 'kennen' in real conversations?
Memorizing charts is only 20% of fluency. Speak naturally with certified native German tutors on Preply. Book your first trial lesson today with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Quick Practice: Fill in the Blanks
Test your understanding of 'kennen' across tenses
Which verb should you use to say 'Do you know Maria?'
Other Important German Verbs to Study
to be
to have
to become / will (future auxiliary)
can / to be able to
to go / to walk
to see / look
to know (facts/information)
to stay / remain
to give / there is (es gibt)
to speak / talk
to drive / ride / travel
to help (takes dative)
to take
to write
to run / to walk / to function
to bring / to take to
to drink
to think
should / ought to / to be supposed to
may / to be allowed to / to have permission
to find / to consider / to think of
to want / to intend
to come / to arrive / to originate from
to stand / to be situated / to suit
to let / to allow / to leave behind
to begin / to start
to sleep
to need / to require
to believe / to think
to sit / to be seated
to fall
to carry / to wear
to meet / to hit a target
to fly
to close / to shut / to conclude
to forget
to win / to gain