wann

Wann is a term with linguistic and onomastic uses. In German, wann is an interrogative adverb meaning "when," used to ask about time. It appears in direct questions such as "Wann beginnt der Film?" and in dependent clauses such as "Ich weiß nicht, wann er kommt." It is used for specific time references and is distinct from wenn, which covers conditional clauses and repeated events. Phrases like wann immer mean "whenever" and are common in both spoken and written German.

As a surname, Wann is of German origin and occurs in German-speaking regions as well as among descendants in other countries. Surnames of this form can be toponymic, occupational, or descriptive in origin, with the precise etymology varying by family line. In historical records, bearers of the name Wann may appear in civil registries, immigration lists, and genealogical sources.

In contemporary contexts, Wann is most often encountered as a surname in Western countries and as the German word used for time inquiries. The term remains a standard part of German grammar and orthography, and its usage illustrates the distinction between question words and conditional particles in the language.