Many learners confuse the two verbs kennen and wissen as they are often translated to mean "to know". Discover the subtle difference with rules, examples and a simplified comparison table.
The difference between kennen and wissen in the German language in detail with examples
In the Arabic language, we use one word, “know,” to express all types of knowledge. But the Germans are very precise and distinguish between two types of knowledge: knowledge of people, places or concrete things (expressed by the verbkennen), knowledge of facts or abstract information (expressed by the verbwish).
💡 Golden rule:We usekennenWhen the object is a concrete noun (people, cities, books, etc.). While we usewishWith facts and information, it is often followed by a subclause beginning with dass or interrogatives.
1. Use of the verb kennen (concrete knowledge)
This verb means "to be familiar with" or "to be personally acquainted with". The object here must be a noun (direct object in the case of Akkusativ) or a pronoun.
For grammatical details of the verb, seeThe concept of knowledge (Wissen) grammar on Wikipedia.
Examples:
- IchkenneDies Frau.(I know this woman - personally).
- Kennstdu Berlin?(Do you know Berlin? - Have you visited or are you familiar with it?).
2. Use of the verb wissen (to know facts and information)
This verb means "to have true information about something." This verb is not followed by a noun or a country, but is often followed by a neutral pronoun (das, es, etwas, nichts) or a subordinate clause that begins with a conjunction.
Examples:
- IchweißThis is not the case.(I don't know that/that - information).
- Ichweiß, he entered the book.(I knew it was coming - fact).
- WeßtWhy, what is this?(Do you know what time it is? - a question about a fact).
Conjugation of two verbs in the present tense (Präsens)
Both verbs are irregular in conjugation. The verb is characterizedwishIt changes its entire vowel in the singular and resembles modalverben, where the conjugation of the first and third pronouns is identical:
| Conscience |
Conjugation of wissen |
Conjugation of kennen |
| ich |
weiß |
kenne |
| du. du |
weißt |
kennst |
| er/sie/es |
weiß |
kennt |
| wir |
wish |
kennen |
| ihr |
wisst |
kennt |
| sie / sie |
wish |
kennen |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the main difference between kennen and wissen?
We use kennen to know about people, places, and books (familiar with something), and we use wissen to know facts, information, and news (scientific fact or news).
Which verb do we use to identify a particular city?
We use kennen because city is a concrete and familiar physical noun. Example: Ich kenne Wien (I know/visited Vienna).
Is wissen followed by a direct object sane?
No, wissen cannot be used on people at all. It is not grammatically correct to say "Ich weiß dich". The correct one is: Ich kenne dich.
What is the conjugation of wissen with the pronoun ich?
Its conjugation is: ich weiß (an irregular conjugation devoid of the usual ending -e).
Recommended sources and references
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