Deutsch · A2 · verb · 4 minutes
Wissen: present tense
State known facts with weiß in the singular and wiss- in the plural.
Understand the choice
Wissen answers a fact or proposition, while kennen expresses familiarity with a person, place, or noun. The complement after the verb usually reveals which kind of knowing is intended.
Core rule: Wissen uses weiß-/weißt in the singular and wiss- in plural forms; it introduces facts and indirect questions.
Notice it in context
Ich weiß, wann der nächste Zug abfährt.
I know when the next train leaves.
Weiß is first-person singular; the wann clause has subordinate-final abfährt.
Wisst ihr die Adresse?
Do you know the address?
Wisst agrees with ihr and takes the factual item directly.
Sie kennt Berlin gut, aber sie weiß nicht, wo das Museum ist.
She knows Berlin well but does not know where the museum is.
Kennt marks familiarity; weiß introduces an unknown fact.
What to remember
- Ich weiß es nicht is the ordinary “I don’t know.”
- Weiß uses ß after a long vowel; Swiss spelling uses weiss.
Common trap: Do not say ich weiß Berlin for familiarity. Say ich kenne Berlin.