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wissen
/ˈvɪsn̩/
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
Antonyms
Related Phrases
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
suffixDeutsch-Englisch Wörterbuch