Icelandic Verbs: To Know

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Conjugating Icelandic verbs: to know

There are different verbs for “to know” depending on what it is you know. This may sound daunting, but it is not.

The verb kunna implies knowledge of a learned skill for example driving a car. When followed by another verb, að must be placed between the two, otherwise it governs the accusative case and conjugates as follows:

Ég kann

Þú kannt

Hann Kann

Við kunnum

Þið kunnið

Þeir kunna

The next verb expressing knowledge is vita. This is more factual knowledge and it governs the accusative case. A very important rule is that this verb cannot stand alone. It has to be followed by something. You cannot say ég veit. Instead you must say ég veit það. When used as a subordinate clause, it is followed by að. An example þú veist að ég elska þig (you know that I love you)

Ég veit

Þú veist

Hún veit

Við vitum

Þið vitið

Þær vita

The verb þekkja implies knowledge due to previous exposure and again governs the accusative case.