What is the difference between “kennen” and “wissen”?
Dialog mit kennen und wissen für Anfänger
A2 German listening practice · Standard German · Picked for people who know a little
German splits English “know” in two, and this dialog is a workout for both. Kennen is knowing people, places, and things through experience: Kennst du Marie? — Die kenne ich. Wissen is knowing facts: Das wusste ich schon. The quick test: if “be familiar with” fits, use kennen; if a question word or a dass-clause follows, it’s wissen.
The dialog volleys them beautifully: Kennst du ihren Mann? — Nee, den kenne ich nicht, but Wusstest du, dass sie nach Berlin gezogen sind? — Nee, das wusste ich nicht. Their offspring kennenlernen means “to get to know”: Wir haben uns noch nicht kennengelernt. Master the split and one of English’s blindest spots in German disappears.
How common are the words?
How common are the words in this A2 German listening practice video?
How common in written German
How common in spoken German
Harder words in this video
These words are harder than A2. Here is what they mean.
Source: wordfreq 3.1.1 (general) · SUBTLEX-DE 2011 (spoken). These numbers are close, not perfect.