können — to be able (to do or be something), to have the possibility of, can.; to be able to do something implied; can.
können is the #21 most common word in German, a verb. It means “to be able (to do or be something), to have the possibility of, can.; to be able to do something implied; can.” and is pronounced /ˈkœnən/.
#21frequency rank
0.46%of everyday German text
Level 1Beginner 1
Forms of können
| Form | What it is | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| kann | he/she · present | he/she is |
| konnte | past | was |
| gekonnt | past participle | been |
| können | past participle | been |
| könnte | subjunctive past | was |
| haben | auxiliary verb | |
| können | infinitive | to be |
| könnend | -ing form | being |
| kann | I · present | I am |
| können | we · present | we are |
| könne | I · subjunctive I (reported) | (reportedly) I be |
| können | we · subjunctive I (reported) | (reportedly) we be |
| kannst | you · present | you are |
| könnt | you (pl.) · present | you (pl.) are |
| könnest | you · subjunctive I (reported) | (reportedly) you be |
| könnet | you (pl.) · subjunctive I (reported) | (reportedly) you (pl.) be |
| können | they · present | they are |
| könne | he/she · subjunctive I (reported) | (reportedly) he/she be |
| können | they · subjunctive I (reported) | (reportedly) they be |
| konnte | I · past | I was |
| konnten | we · past | we were |
| könnte | I · subjunctive II (would / if) | (if) I were |
| könnten | we · subjunctive II (would / if) | (if) we were |
| konntest | you · past | you were |
| konntet | you (pl.) · past | you (pl.) were |
| könntest | you · subjunctive II (would / if) | (if) you were |
| könntet | you (pl.) · subjunctive II (would / if) | (if) you (pl.) were |
| konnte | he/she · past | he/she was |
| konnten | they · past | they were |
| könnte | he/she · subjunctive II (would / if) | (if) he/she were |
| könnten | they · subjunctive II (would / if) | (if) they were |