Vergleichen

Vergleichen is a German verb meaning to compare, that is, to examine two or more items in order to identify their similarities and differences. It is used across many contexts, including consumer decisions, scientific assessments, and everyday reasoning.

Etymologically, vergleichen comes from the root gleichen, meaning to be equal, with the prefix ver-. The combination conveys the sense of examining equalities and differences between items rather than simply stating that two things are alike.

Usage and construction: vergleichen is a transitive verb. It commonly takes a direct object and can be followed by mit to specify what is being compared, for example, Preise mit anderen Modellen vergleichen. The expression im Vergleich zu is used to contrast something with another thing or with a standard. The verb is inflected in all tenses and moods (ich vergleiche, du vergleichst, er vergleicht; ich verglich, wir verglichen; ich habe verglichen).

Noun form and related expressions: The related noun der Vergleich denotes the act of comparing or the result of a comparison. Common phrases include einen Vergleich ziehen (to draw a comparison), im Vergleich zu (in comparison with), and gegenüberstellen (to juxtapose).

See also: Vergleich as a concept, Abgleichen and Gegenüberstellen as related ways of evaluating or aligning items, and the broader field of data analysis and consumer journalism where the verb is frequently employed.

In summary, vergleichen is a core verb for evaluating similarities and differences, with wide applicability from everyday choices to technical analysis, and it forms the basis for the noun der Vergleich and several common expressions in German.