kunnen

See also: künnen

Dutch

Etymology

From Middle Dutch connen, cunnen, from Old Dutch cunnan, from Proto-Germanic *kunnaną, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵneh₃-.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkʏnə(n)/

• Audio

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ʏnən

Verb

kunnen

1. (intransitive) to be possible

   Dat kan niet.

   That is not possible.

2. (auxiliary) can, to be able to

   Hij kon goed rennen, omdat hij een getraind sportbeoefenaar was.

   He could run well, because he was a trained sportsman.

3. (auxiliary) may, can, to be allowed to

   Je kan me altijd bellen.

   You can always call me.

   Synonym: mogen

4. (intransitive) can go, to be able to go, can get

   Ik kan mijn huis niet meer in!

   I cannot get into my house anymore!

5. (transitive) to be able to do, to be capable of

   Ik kan dat niet.

   I am not able to do that.

6. (intransitive) to be available (for any type of meeting or appointment)

   Ik kan morgenavond niet.

   I will not be available tomorrow night.

Inflection

Inflection of kunnen (preterite-present)
infinitive	kunnen
past singular	kon
past participle	gekund
infinitive	kunnen
gerund	kunnen n
verbal noun	—
	present tense	past tense
1st person singular	kan	kon
2nd person sing. (jij)	kunt, kan	kon
2nd person sing. (u)	kunt, kan	kon
2nd person sing. (gij)	kunt	kondt
3rd person singular	kan	kon
plural	kunnen	konden
subjunctive sing.1	kunne	konde
subjunctive plur.1	kunnen	konden
imperative sing.	kan
imperative plur.1	kunt
participles	kunnend	gekund
1) Archaic.

Derived terms

• kunde
• kunst
• aankunnen

Descendants

• Afrikaans: kan (from inflected form kan)

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Swedish

Verb

kunnen

1. Obsolete plural form of kan, present tense of kunna. 2nd person only

   Och om I gören gott mot dem som göra eder gott, vad tack kunnen I få därför?

   And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? (Luke 6:33)