German Phrase
Die Lehrer lernen neue Familien kennen.
Meaning
The sentence states that the teachers become acquainted with new families, typically the families of their students. It emphasizes the process of meeting and getting to know the parents or guardians.
When to use
Use this phrase when describing a school’s first‑day activities, parent‑teacher meetings, or any situation where teachers are introduced to the families of their pupils.
✦Grammar Breakdown
DieLehrerlernenneueFamilienkennen
Definite article (plural nominative)
"Die" is the plural nominative form of the definite article, used here because "Lehrer" is plural and the subject of the sentence.
Subject‑verb agreement
"Lehrer" is plural, so the verb "lernen" is conjugated in the 3rd person plural present tense.
Accusative case after "kennen"
The object "neue Familien" is in the accusative case because it is the thing being gotten to know.
"lernen … kennen" construction
In German, "lernen" can be combined with another infinitive to express "to learn to …". Here it means "to get to know" – similar to the separable verb "kennenlernen".
Adjective declension (plural accusative)
"neue" takes the weak ending "-e" in the plural accusative after the definite article is omitted.
🗨In Conversation
Die Lehrer lernen neue Familien kennen.
The teachers are getting to know new families.
Ja, das ist wichtig für ein gutes Lernklima.
Yes, that’s important for a good learning atmosphere.
✕Common Mistakes
Die Lehrer kennen neue Familien.
Using only "kennen" would imply the teachers already know the families, not that they are meeting them for the first time.
Die Lehrer lernen neue Familie kennen.
The noun must be plural (Familien) because "neue" refers to multiple families.
Die Lehrer lernt neue Familien kennen.
Subject‑verb agreement: "Lehrer" is plural, so the verb must be "lernen", not "lernt".
Die Lehrer lernen neuen Familien kennen.
In the plural accusative without a preceding article, the adjective takes the weak ending "-e", not "-en".
↔Alternatives
Die Lehrkräfte treffen neue Familien.
The teaching staff meet new families.
Die Lehrer machen Bekanntschaft mit neuen Familien.
The teachers become acquainted with new families.
Die Lehrer lernen die Familien ihrer Schüler kennen.
The teachers learn the families of their students.
Cultural Tip
In German schools it is common to hold an "Elternabend" (parents' evening) at the beginning of the school year. During this event teachers introduce themselves and get to know the families of their pupils, which helps build trust and cooperation. Using the phrase "Lehrer lernen neue Familien kennen" signals a collaborative, community‑focused approach to education.