wann or wéi
When: Wann or Wéi?
Wann: now, later or again and again. Wéi: one time in the past. Wann ech Zäit hunn, kommen ech. Wéi ech Zäit hat, sinn ech komm.
How It Works
1. A quick guide
- Present or future → wann: Wann ech Zäit hunn, kommen ech. (When I have time, I will come.)
- Repeated in the past (whenever) → wann: Wann et gereent huet, si mer ëmmer doheem bliwwen. (Whenever it rained, we always stayed at home.)
- One event or period in the past → wéi: Wéi et gëschter gereent huet, si mer doheem bliwwen. (When it rained yesterday, we stayed at home.)
- A question → wéini: Wéini kënns du? (When are you coming?)
2. A period counts as one time
A stretch of life like childhood is one period, so it takes wéi, even when the main clause describes a habit: Wéi ech jonk war, sinn ech ëmmer bei menger Boma an d'Vakanz gaangen.
3. Wann also means if
Wann is also the word for if: Wann et reent, huelen ech de Bus. In the future, when and if often blend together. With du, wann adds an s: Wann s de muer Zäit hues, ruff mech un. See The S After Conjunctions With Du.
4. Same word order
Wann and wéi both send the verb to the end of their clause, and when their clause comes first, the main clause starts with its verb. See Starting With a Subordinate Clause.
5. Answering wéini
A wéini question is often answered with a wann clause: Wéini kënns du? – Wann ech fäerdeg sinn.
Examples (6)
- Wann ech Zäit hunn, kommen ech.
When I have time, I will come.
Present and future: wann.
- Wéi ech Zäit hat, sinn ech komm.
When I had time, I came.
One occasion in the past: wéi.
- Wann et gereent huet, si mer ëmmer doheem bliwwen.
Whenever it rained, we always stayed at home.
A repeated event in the past: wann, often with ëmmer.
- Wéi et gëschter gereent huet, si mer doheem bliwwen.
When it rained yesterday, we stayed at home.
A single day in the past: wéi.
- Wann s de muer Zäit hues, ruff mech un.
If you have time tomorrow, give me a call.
Wann also means if. With du, an s is added: wann s de.
- Wéini kënns du? – Wann ech fäerdeg sinn.
When are you coming? – When I'm finished.
Wéini asks the question, and wann answers it.
Common Mistakes
Using wann for a single event in the past.
Wann ech gëschter heemkomm sinn, war et scho spéit.Wéi ech gëschter heemkomm sinn, war et scho spéit.Coming home yesterday happened once, so it takes wéi.
Using wéi for the future.
Wéi ech muer Zäit hunn, kommen ech.Wann ech muer Zäit hunn, kommen ech.Wéi as when is only for the past. For the future, use wann.
Using wann to ask a question.
Wa kënns du?Wéini kënns du?Wann (written wa here by the n-rule) is not a question word. To ask when, use wéini.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before When: Wann or Wéi?, learn When in the Past: Wéi.
Related Patterns
- wannIf and When: Wann
The conjunction for if and for when in the present and future.
Level 2 - wéiniWhen: Wéini
The question word for when.
Level 1 - wann s deThe S After Conjunctions with Du
Explains the s in wann s de.
Level 2 - Starting With a Subordinate Clause
Both conjunctions follow this word order.
Level 3 - dunnThen in a Story: Dunn
Dunn and dann follow a similar split between the past and the future.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice wann or wéi in Bubblegum
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