wenn

See also: Wenn and wénn

German

Etymology

Like wann, from Proto-Germanic *hwannē (at what time, when), from Proto-Indo-European *kʷo-, *kʷi- (interrogative base).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /vɛn/
  • (file)
  • (file)

Conjunction

wenn (subordinating)

  1. when
    Sag bitte Bescheid, wenn du fertig bist!
    Tell me when you're done!
  2. if (on the condition that)
    Was tun, wenn ich nicht weiß, ob sie mich liebt?
    What (to do) if I don't know if she loves me?

Usage notes

Instead of using wenn to introduce a conditional clause, verb-initial (V1) word order can also be used:

Wird das nicht gemacht, müsste die Nutzung beschränkt werden.
(If) that is not done, then the uses will have to be limited.

In any case, the main clause can, but need not be, introduced by dann or so:

Bedenkt man, dass Gold recht schwer zu finden ist, so/dann ist es kein Wunder, dass es so wertvoll ist.
If we consider that gold is rather difficult to come by, it is no wonder that it is so valuable.

Derived terms

See also

Further reading

  • wenn” in Duden online
  • wenn” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache

Low German

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *hwannē (at what time, when), from Proto-Indo-European *kʷo-, *kʷi- (interrogative base).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /vɛn/

Conjunction

wenn (subordinating)

  1. when
  2. if (on the condition that)

See also

Old English

Alternative forms

  • wænn

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *wanjaz, diminutive of Proto-Germanic *wan- (swelling, growth, lump, tumor), of uncertain origin. Cognate with Middle Low German wene (wen), Middle Dutch wanne, wan (goiter).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /wenn/, [wen]

Noun

wenn m (nominative plural wennas)

  1. wen (cyst on the skin)

Declension

Descendants

  • Middle English: wenne
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