The German verb "kennen" means "to know (person/place)" in English. It is an irregular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "kennen" across all 7 tenses. New to German verbs? Start with the German verb guide.
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How to Conjugate "kennen" in the Present Tense
Präsens Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | kenne |
| du | you (informal) | kennst |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | kennt |
| wir | we | kennen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | kennt |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | kennen |
Er kennt den Weg zum Park.
He knows the way to the park.
How to Conjugate "kennen" in the Simple Past Tense
Präteritum Completed actions in the past (written/formal)| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | kannte |
| du | you (informal) | kanntest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | kannte |
| wir | we | kannten |
| ihr | you all (informal) | kanntet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | kannten |
Er kannte die Antwort auf die Frage.
He knew the answer to the question.
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Perfekt Completed actions (spoken German)| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | habe gekannt |
| du | you (informal) | hast gekannt |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | hat gekannt |
| wir | we | haben gekannt |
| ihr | you all (informal) | habt gekannt |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | haben gekannt |
Er hat die Wahrheit gekannt.
He has known the truth.
How to Conjugate "kennen" in the Past Perfect Tense
Plusquamperfekt Actions completed before another past action| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | hatte gekannt |
| du | you (informal) | hattest gekannt |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | hatte gekannt |
| wir | we | hatten gekannt |
| ihr | you all (informal) | hattet gekannt |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | hatten gekannt |
Er hatte die Stadt gekannt.
He had known the city.
How to Conjugate "kennen" in the Future Tense
Futur I Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | werde kennen |
| du | you (informal) | wirst kennen |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | wird kennen |
| wir | we | werden kennen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | werdet kennen |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | werden kennen |
Er wird den Weg kennen.
He will know the way.
How to Conjugate "kennen" in the Subjunctive I Tense
Konjunktiv I Indirect speech and formal requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | kenne |
| du | you (informal) | kennest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | kenne |
| wir | we | kennen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | kennet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | kennen |
Er sagt, er kenne die Stadt.
He says he knows the city.
How to Conjugate "kennen" in the Subjunctive II Tense
Konjunktiv II Hypothetical situations and polite requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | kennte |
| du | you (informal) | kenntest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | kennte |
| wir | we | kennten |
| ihr | you all (informal) | kenntet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | kennten |
Er kennte gerne die Wahrheit.
He would like to know the truth.
Frequently Asked Questions About "kennen"
Is "kennen" regular or irregular in German?
"Kennen" is an irregular German verb, meaning its conjugation does not follow standard patterns and must be memorized individually.
What does "kennen" mean in English?
The German verb "kennen" means "to know (person/place)" in English.
How do you conjugate "kennen" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Präsens): ich → kenne, du → kennst, er/sie/es → kennt, wir → kennen, ihr → kennt, sie/Sie → kennen.
How many tenses does "kennen" have in German?
"Kennen" is conjugated across 7 tenses in German: Present, Simple Past, Present Perfect, Past Perfect, Future, Subjunctive I, Subjunctive II.
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