gleich

Gleich is a German word with several related meanings. As an adjective it means “the same” or “identical,” and it is used with nouns to express sameness or equality (der gleiche Mann, das gleiche Auto, die gleichen Chancen). As an adverb it can mean “immediately” or “very soon,” depending on context (Ich komme gleich; Wir fangen gleich an).

The word also functions in noun phrases that emphasize the concept rather than the attribute of sameness. For example, das Gleiche refers to “the same thing.” The term appears in many compound words that express equality or similarity, such as Gleichberechtigung (equality of rights), Gleichgewicht (balance), and Gleichstellung (equal treatment).

Etymology and related forms: Gleich originates from Old High German gilîh and is cognate with related Germanic forms in other languages, such as Dutch gelijk, which likewise means “equal” or “like.” The core sense is the idea of sameness or similarity, which spans everyday usage and more specialized terms.

Usage notes: In mathematics and science, equal signs are described using the term gleich in phrases like a ist gleich b, meaning “a is equal to b.” In everyday German, gleich also marks immediacy or imminence, and it can appear in phrases such as gleich danach (immediately afterwards). The word can also function as a surname in German-speaking regions.

Overall, gleich is a versatile term central to expressing likeness, equality, and immediacy in German.