Als

Als is a term found in several Germanic languages and can also appear as a proper noun in place names or surnames. It is most often encountered as a common word rather than a standalone concept, but its usage varies by language and context.

In German, als is a subordinating conjunction used to denote a specific time in the past, as in the sentence "Als ich ankam, war niemand da" meaning "When I arrived, no one was there." It is also used in comparisons to express a difference, such as "größer als" meaning "taller than." In contrast with wenn, which commonly expresses conditional or repeated actions, als is reserved for single, past events and fixed moments.

In Dutch, als means "as" or "if/when" and introduces both conditional and temporal clauses. For example, "Als ik tijd heb, kom ik" can be translated as "If I have time, I will come" or "When I have time, I will come." Als is also used in similes and comparisons, as in "net zo groot als" meaning "as large as," aligning with its German use in expressing likeness or difference.

Beyond language use, Als may occur as a surname or appear as a component in various place names in Dutch- or German-speaking regions. In uppercase form, ALS is a common acronym for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a neurodegenerative disease, and it is used by a variety of organizations and programs in medical and other contexts.