The difference between WENN & WANN with example sentences

English speakers mix up "wenn" and "wann" more than almost any other German word pair, for a simple reason: English uses "when" for both jobs, while German splits it into two completely different words. This lesson explains exactly when each one applies, with example sentences that make the difference easy to hear and remember.

"Wann": The Question Word for Time

Wann is a question word, used to ask directly or indirectly about a specific point in time: Wann kommst du? — When are you coming? It also works in indirect questions: Ich weiß nicht, wann der Film anfängt. — I don't know when the movie starts. If you can replace "when" with "at what time" in English, "wann" is almost always the right choice.

"Wenn": The Conjunction for Conditions and Repeated Events

Wenn is a conjunction, not a question word, and it covers two jobs: conditional "if" statements and repeated or habitual "whenever" events. Wenn es regnet, bleibe ich zu Hause. — If it rains, I stay home (condition). Wenn ich Zeit habe, gehe ich joggen. — Whenever I have time, I go jogging (repeated action). Both uses send the verb to the end of the "wenn" clause, since it's a subordinating conjunction.

A Quick Test to Tell Them Apart

Ask yourself: am I asking a question about time, or describing a condition/repeated event? If it's a direct or indirect question about "at what time," use "wann." If it's an "if" statement or something that happens repeatedly, use "wenn." A useful memory hook: "wann" pairs with a clock, "wenn" pairs with a condition.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between "wenn" and "wann" in German?

"Wann" is a question word asking about a specific point in time (When are you coming?), while "wenn" is a conjunction used for conditions ("if") or repeated events ("whenever").

Can "wenn" be used to ask a question?

No — "wenn" is never a question word. Any question about time, direct or indirect, uses "wann" instead, e.g. "Ich weiß nicht, wann der Film anfängt."

Does "wenn" always mean "if"?

Not always — "wenn" also means "whenever," describing something that happens repeatedly, e.g. "Wenn ich Zeit habe, gehe ich joggen" (Whenever I have time, I go jogging).

What word order comes after "wenn"?

"Wenn" is a subordinating conjunction, so it sends the conjugated verb to the end of its clause, just like "weil" or "dass."

Is there a simple way to remember when to use "wann" vs. "wenn"?

Yes — think of "wann" as pairing with a clock (a specific time question) and "wenn" as pairing with a condition or repeated situation.

Word pairs like this one get sorted out for good in our A2 German course, with real speaking practice built in.