how to pronounce können

/ˈkœnən/

audio example by a male speaker

audio example by a female speaker

the above transcription of können is a detailed (narrow) transcription according to the rules of the International Phonetic Association; you can find a description of each symbol by clicking the phoneme buttons in the secction below.

können is pronounced in two syllables

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1.

2. example pitch curve for pronunciation of können

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video examples of können pronunciation

An example use of können in a speech by a native speaker of standard german:

“… um schnell machen zu können habe ich das …”

meanings of können

verb:

To be allowed (to do something); to be permitted (to do something); may.
To be in the legal situation of being able to realize a legal effect even if it be legally disallowed.
To be able to do something implied; can.
To know how to do (something); to know; to understand; to be able to do (something); to be capable of; can do (something), to have a specific skill. (which is notably unlike in English where another verb is needed for a main verb).
To be possible, to make sense.
To be able (to do or be something), to have the possibility of; can.

noun:

Gerund of können; skill, ability.

können frequency in german - A1 level of CEFR

the word können occurs in german on average 1150.8 times per one million words; this frequency warrants it to be in the study list for A1 level of language mastery according to CEFR, the Common European Framework of Reference.