kann

Kann is primarily known as the present tense, third-person singular form of the German verb können, meaning "to be able to" or "can." It is used to express ability, possibility, or permission in statements and questions. The infinitive form is können, and other present tense forms include ich kann, du kannst, wir können, ihr könnt, sie können. Examples: Er kann schwimmen. Kannst du mir helfen? Ich kann heute nicht kommen. In negation, nicht typically follows the verb: Er kann nicht kommen.

Grammatically, kann is a modal auxiliary verb and often appears with another verb in the infinitive to convey ability or possibility, such as können + infinitive (Ich kann schwimmen; Er kann kommen). It forms part of standard German conjugation and undergoes standard word order rules, including position of the finite verb in main clauses and the use of subordinate clause structures.

Kann is also used as a surname. As a family name of German origin, it appears in German-speaking regions and in populations descended from German-speaking communities. Like many surnames, its specific origin can vary by family and may reflect historical occupations, locales, or nicknames. In English-language references, Kann is typically treated as a surname rather than a grammatical term.

Beyond its linguistic role, Kann does not denote a widely recognized place, organization, or concept on its own in English-language encyclopedic usage. When encountered, the meaning is usually inferred from context—either the German verb form or the surname.