vide / kende

Know (Vide/kende)

Level 2

Danish uses two different verbs for 'to know': vide (facts/information) and kende (familiarity/acquaintance).

How It Works

In English, we use 'know' for everything. In Danish, you must choose based on the type of knowledge:

1. vide (ved): Used for facts and information. It often precedes an at-clause or a question word like hvad. It can also take direct objects like det (it) or svaret (the answer).
Note: The present tense ved is irregular and does not end in '-r'.
Past tense: vidste.

2. kende (kender): Used for familiarity or acquaintance. Use this for people, places, or things you have seen before (e.g., Jeg kender ham fra tv - I know him from TV).
Past tense: kendte.

3. kunne (kan): Used for skills, abilities, and languages. If you 'know' how to do something or 'know' a language, use kan.
Example: Jeg kan dansk (I know Danish).

Key Distinction:

  • Jeg ved det = I know that (I have the information).
  • Jeg kender det = I know that (I am familiar with it/I recognize it).
  • Jeg kan det = I know it (I have the skill/I can do it).

Routes And Memory: Jeg kender vejen means I know the way. Jeg kan sangen udenad means I know the song by heart; Jeg kender sangen only says I am familiar with it. Recognizing: Genkende names recognizing someone or something encountered before: Jeg genkendte ham på stemmen (I recognized him by his voice). Kende ham fra tv instead describes familiarity from television.

Examples (5)

  1. Jeg ved ikke, hvornår bussen kommer.

    I don't know when the bus is coming.

    Word by Word: I know not, when bus-the comes.

    We use 'vide' (ved) here because we are talking about a specific piece of information (the time).

  2. Kender du min bror?

    Do you know my brother?

    Word by Word: Know you my brother?

    We use 'kende' because it refers to being acquainted with a person.

  3. Jeg ved, at han taler dansk.

    I know that he speaks Danish.

    Word by Word: I know, that he speaks Danish.

    We use 'vide' because it is followed by a 'that-clause' representing a fact.

  4. Jeg kender en god restaurant i København.

    I know a good restaurant in Copenhagen.

    Word by Word: I know a good restaurant in Copenhagen.

    We use 'kende' because it implies familiarity with a specific place.

  5. Ved du noget om det?

    Do you know anything about it?

    Word by Word: Know you something about it?

    'Vide' is used with pronouns of extent like 'noget' (something) or 'intet' (nothing) when referring to information.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'vide' or 'kende' for skills and languages.

    Jeg ved dansk.
    Jeg kan dansk.

    When you 'know' a skill or a language, Danish uses the modal verb kan (can) instead of 'vide' or 'kende'.

  • Using 'vide' for people.

    Jeg ved ham.
    Jeg kender ham.

    You cannot 'vide' a person; you can only be familiar with them or recognize them ('kende').

  • Adding an '-r' to the present tense of 'vide'.

    Jeg vider det ikke.
    Jeg ved det ikke.

    The present tense of 'vide' is irregular: it is 'ved'. Unlike most verbs, it does not take the -r ending.

Words in This Pattern

videkende