Kannen

Kannen is the plural form of the German noun Kanne, meaning a vessel with a handle used to hold and pour liquids, such as teapots, coffee pots, or water jugs. In everyday German, Kannen refer to multiple such vessels and can be made from ceramic, metal, glass, or other materials. The term appears in contexts ranging from kitchenware and tableware to inventories and descriptions of household goods.

The word Kanne is native to the German language and is widely used across German-speaking regions. In addition to its literal meaning, the term has cultural and historical associations in pottery and ceramics, where jugs and related wares have been produced and collected for centuries. The plural Kannen appears in cataloguing and design discussions of such wares.

Kannen also occurs as a surname in German-speaking areas. Individuals bearing the surname Kannen have been recorded in public records and local communities, though the name is not tied to a single prominent figure. Because of linguistic and regional contact, the surname can sometimes appear in neighboring Dutch-speaking contexts as well.

In regional terminology and place-naming, parts of Germany reference pottery traditions connected to vessels like kannen, and related toponyms sometimes contribute to the cultural landscape of a region. The term also appears in broader discussions of household objects and the history of tableware.

See also: Kanne; Kannenbäckerland.