verb
Common
ken
kehn
Ken (verb) means to know or understand something (chiefly Scottish and Northern English dialect). Example: “Och, I dinnae ken whether the bus is running on a Sunday.”
verb
1
To know or understand something (chiefly Scottish and Northern English dialect).
"Och, I dinnae ken whether the bus is running on a Sunday."
"Do you ken what he meant by that?"
"I dinnae ken where they went."
noun
1
The range or limit of someone's knowledge or understanding.
"Why the printer keeps jamming is quite beyond my ken."
"Quantum physics is well beyond my ken."
"The details of the negotiation were outside her ken."
How to use ken
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo know something (Scots/Northern English usage), or, as a noun, the scope of someone's knowledge.
When to use it
The verb sense is chiefly Scottish/Northern English dialect; the noun phrase "beyond my ken" is standard English.
Common pairings
beyond my ken
outside one's ken
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Word forms
- Plural
- kens, kenim
- Third person singular
- kens
- Past tense
- kenned, kent
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Och, I dinnae _____ whether the bus is running on a Sunday.
Etymology
From Middle English kennen, "to make known, understand", from Old English cennan, "to declare, give birth to, beget" — related to the modern word kin.
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “ken” mean?
The word “ken” means to know or understand something (chiefly Scottish and Northern English dialect). In plain terms, to know something (Scots/Northern English usage), or, as a noun, the scope of someone's knowledge.
How do you pronounce “ken”?
“Ken” is pronounced kehn (/kɛn/ in IPA).
How do you use “ken” in a sentence?
Here is “ken” used in a sentence: “Do you ken what he meant by that?”
What part of speech is “ken”?
Depending on how it is used, “ken” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “ken” come from?
The word “ken” comes from Old English. From Middle English kennen, "to make known, understand", from Old English cennan, "to declare, give birth to, beget" — related to the modern word kin.
Is “ken” a common word?
“Ken” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “ken” have?
“Ken” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to know or understand something (chiefly Scottish and Northern English dialect).
What is the difference between 'ken' and 'know'?
As verbs, both 'ken' and 'know' mean to understand or be aware of something. 'Know' is standard everywhere, while 'ken' is a dialect word used mainly in Scotland and Northern England, as in 'do you ken?'
Where is 'ken' used to mean 'to know'?
The verb 'ken,' meaning to know or understand, is chiefly Scottish and Northern English dialect. It is common in everyday speech in those regions but is rare in standard English elsewhere.
Is 'ken' still used in everyday English?
The verb sense, meaning 'to know,' remains in active use as dialect in Scotland and Northern England. In standard English the word survives mainly as a noun in the fixed phrase 'beyond one's ken.'
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