adverb, adjectiveA1

gleich

soon, in a moment, right away · immediately, at once · the same, equal

Gleich means 'soon', 'right away', or 'immediately' when talking about time. It can also mean 'the same' or 'equal' when used as an adjective. Germans use it constantly in everyday speech to say something is about to happen or that things are identical.

What gleich means

  1. soon, in a moment, right away — talking about something that will happen very soon
  2. immediately, at once — emphasizing that something happens without delay
  3. the same, equal — used as an adjective to describe identical things

Heard in real German videos

Lines where gleich was actually spoken, from German videos watched with DeutschChat.

  • Fred, wir haben es gleich geschafft.Fred, we've almost made it.
  • Entschuldige bitte, ich bin gleich zurück.Excuse me, I'll be right back.

Example sentences

  • Ich bin gleich fertig.I'll be ready in a moment.
  • Wir haben die gleiche Idee.We have the same idea.
  • Der Bus kommt gleich.The bus is coming soon.
  • Sie sind gleich alt.They are the same age.

Common phrases

  • gleich um die Eckejust around the corner
  • gleich nebenanright next door
  • bis gleichsee you in a bit
  • gleichfallslikewise, same to you

The mistake English speakers make

English speakers often confuse gleich with jetzt. Gleich usually means 'soon' or 'in a moment' (though it can also mean 'immediately' in some contexts), while jetzt means 'now'. Use gleich when something is about to happen or will happen very soon; use jetzt for the exact present moment.

Don’t confuse it with

  • sofort — Sofort means 'immediately' with no delay, while gleich can mean 'soon' or 'in a moment'.
  • derselbe — Derselbe means 'the very same' (one object), while der gleiche means 'the same kind' (two identical objects).

Questions learners ask

What is the difference between gleich and sofort?

Gleich usually means 'soon' or 'in a moment' and allows a short delay, while sofort means 'immediately' or 'right now' with no delay.

How do you use gleich as an adjective?

As an adjective, gleich means 'same' or 'equal' and takes normal adjective endings: der gleiche, die gleiche, das gleiche. Example: Wir haben die gleiche Jacke.

What does 'bis gleich' mean?

Bis gleich means 'see you in a bit' or 'see you soon'. It is used when you expect to see the person again very soon, often within minutes.

Related words

jetzt