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wissen

/ˈvɪsn̩/
verb★Beginner💡 to know

“Ich weiß die Antwort.”

I know the answer.

general

to know (facts or information)

Er weiß, wo der Bahnhof ist.

He knows where the train station is.

💡

Used for factual knowledge or awareness. Often followed by a subordinate clause or object.

general

to know how to do something

Sie weiß, wie man Klavier spielt.

She knows how to play the piano.

💡

Followed by a subordinate clause with 'wie' (how) or 'dass' (that).

general

to be aware of

Ich weiß von dem Problem.

I am aware of the problem.

💡

Used when acknowledging or being informed about something.

Collocations

etwas wissento know somethingBescheid wissento be in the knownicht wissento not know

Synonyms

kennenverstehen

Antonyms

ignorierenunwissen

Related Phrases

Das weiß ich nichtphrase
I don't know that
Weißt du Bescheid?phrase
Are you in the know?

💡Pro Tip

Modal verb usage

'Wissen' is a modal verb and often used in the present tense to express knowledge. It is frequently followed by a subordinate clause introduced by 'dass' (that) or 'wie' (how).

⚡Gold Rule

Knowledge vs. familiarity

Use 'wissen' for factual knowledge (e.g., 'Ich weiß die Antwort') and 'kennen' for familiarity (e.g., 'Ich kenne diesen Mann').

📖Word Origin

From Middle High German 'wizzen', from Old High German 'wizzan', from Proto-Germanic '*witaną', related to English 'wit' and 'wisdom'. Cognate with Dutch 'weten', Swedish 'veta', and Gothic 'witan'.

📝Usage Notes

In German, 'wissen' is used for factual knowledge, while 'kennen' is used for familiarity with people, places, or things. 'Wissen' is a modal verb and often used with subordinate clauses.

Word Breakdown

wiss-
root related to knowledge
root
+
-en
infinitive verb ending
suffix
Deutsch-Englisch Wörterbuch

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Words of the Year

The most notable words that defined each year. Discover the vocabulary that shaped our world.