Vocabulary
denn
/dɛn/· conjunction
because, for; (particle) then, so
Means 'because' like weil — but it doesn't touch the word order (position 0): …, denn ich bin müde. In questions it's a friendly particle: Was ist denn los?
CEFR A2Frequency ●●●●●
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New
Learning
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Mastered
One word, many lives
Tap a meaning. Real German isn't a dictionary translation.
denn
because, for (normal word order)
Ich gehe früh ins Bett, denn ich bin müde.
I'm going to bed early, because I'm tired.
Common combinations
- Was ist denn los?What's the matter?
- Wo bist du denn?Where are you, then?
- mehr denn jemore than ever
Similar & opposite
≈ Synonyms
weil (verb goes to the end)
Common learner mistakes
- Ich bleibe zu Hause, denn ich krank bin.Ich bleibe zu Hause, denn ich bin krank.denn doesn't change the word order (position 0): subject, then the verb in position 2.
- Denn ich müde bin, gehe ich schlafen.Weil ich müde bin, gehe ich schlafen.A denn-clause always comes second. To start with the reason, use weil.
Real examples
- Ich gehe früh ins Bett, denn ich bin müde.I'm going to bed early, because I'm tired.
- Wir nehmen die Wohnung nicht, denn sie ist zu teuer.We're not taking the flat, because it's too expensive.
- Was ist denn los?What's the matter?
