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German Phrase

Ich lerne neue Kulturen kennen.

/ɪç ˈlɛʁnə ˈnɔʏ̯ə ˈkʊltuːʁən ˈkɛnən/
Meaning"I get to know new cultures."
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Meaning

Literally, “I learn new cultures to know.” In everyday English it means “I get to know new cultures” or “I am learning about new cultures.” The phrase conveys an active, open‑minded attitude toward cultural discovery.

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When to use

Use this sentence when you talk about traveling, studying abroad, attending multicultural events, or simply expressing a desire to broaden your cultural horizons.

✦Grammar Breakdown

IchlerneneueKulturenkennen

1

Personal pronoun

"Ich" is the first‑person singular pronoun and is always capitalised in German.

2

Verb pattern lernen + infinitive

When "lernen" is followed by another verb, the second verb stays in the infinitive (e.g., "lernen kennen").

3

Separable verb kennen‑lernen

"kennenlernen" means “to get to know”. In this construction the infinitive "kennen" is placed after "lernen".

4

Adjective declension

"neue" modifies the plural noun "Kulturen" and therefore takes the weak ending -e in the accusative.

5

Plural noun in accusative

"Kulturen" is the plural of "Kultur" and appears in the accusative case as the object of "kennen".

🗨In Conversation

A

Was machst du dieses Jahr?

What are you doing this year?

Ich lerne neue Kulturen kennen, indem ich an einem Austauschprogramm teilnehme.

I’m getting to know new cultures by taking part in an exchange program.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Ich lerne neue Kulturen.

    Missing "kennen" – the verb "kennenlernen" is required to express "to get to know".

  • Ich lerne neue Kultur kennen.

    The noun must be plural because "neue" modifies a plural object.

  • Ich lerne neue Kulturen zu kennen.

    After "lernen" the infinitive stands alone; do not add the preposition "zu".

↔Alternatives

  • Ich entdecke neue Kulturen.

    I discover new cultures.

  • Ich lerne andere Kulturen kennen.

    I get to know other cultures.

  • Ich mache mich mit neuen Kulturen vertraut.

    I become familiar with new cultures.

de

Cultural Tip

In German, "kennenlernen" is used both for meeting people and for becoming familiar with ideas, places, or cultures. It is more natural than "lernen" alone when you want to stress the personal, experiential aspect of the encounter. Remember that the verb is separable, so in the present tense you would say "Ich lerne neue Kulturen kennen" but in the perfect tense it becomes "Ich habe neue Kulturen kennengelernt."