adjective
known, familiar
A1
bekannt: An adjective meaning “known” or “familiar”, used for people, places or facts. It is gradable (bekannter; am bekanntesten) and can function as a participle. Antonym: unbekannt. Derived from the verb bekanntmachen. No special preposition or reflexive use. Commonly used in everyday language.
Examples
Der Sänger war damals sehr bekannt, obwohl sein erstes Album kaum Beachtung fand.
The singer was very well known at the time, although his first album received hardly any attention.
Die Melodie ist mir bekannt.
The melody is familiar to me.
Er ist ein bekannter Musiker.
He is a well-known musician.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture a famous person with a label 'bekannt' over them
Sounds like 'be-cant' — imagine someone who 'can be' recognized
Notes
'Bekannt' is a participial adjective (from verbs like 'bekanntmachen'/'bekanntgeben' historically). It is often used predicatively and attributively.