German

Adjective

gleich ‎(comparative gleicher, superlative am gleichsten)

1. equal
2. same; very similar
3. (often proscribed) same; identical

Usage notes

• See derselbe for notes on the prescribed distinction between this word and gleich.
• The comparations forms are rather rare. They occur chiefly in colloquial or informal usage; for example: Diese beiden Socken sind ziemlich gleich, aber die anderen beiden sind noch gleicher. (“These two socks are pretty identical, but those other two are even more identical.”) There is also a common humorous saying that goes: Im Kommunismus waren alle gleich. Aber manche waren gleicher. (“Everyone was equal in communism. But some were more equal [than the others].”)

Declension

Adverb

gleich

1. alike
2. in a moment
3. at once, at a time, simultaneously
   • 2010, Der Spiegel, issue 40/2010, page 142:

     Entdeckung im All: Gleich zwei erdähnliche Planeten kreisen um den Zwergstern Gliese 581.

     Discovery in the universe: two Earth-like planets at once revolve around the dwarf star Gliese 581.

4. now

Derived terms