German Conversation · Level 185
30 words
German word
gleichsam
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈglaɪ̯çzaːm/
Meaning
- adverbso to speak
Example
Das ist gleichsam der Anfang eines neuen Kapitels.
That is, so to speak, the beginning of a new chapter.
More examples
Seine Arbeit ist gleichsam eine Art Experiment.
His work is, so to speak, a kind of experiment.
Core concept
A new situation is presented as if it were a familiar kind of thing, with the comparison kept slightly provisional.
Common phrases
gleichsam eine Art
so to speak, a kind of
Similar words
sozusagen: Adds a short, conversational illustration to clarify a point.
quasi: Briefly suggests that something is almost or practically the case.
gewissermaßen: Carefully limits a statement to what is true to some extent.
Definition in German
Damit markiert man eine Aussage als vergleichsweise oder sinnbildlich und deutet zugleich Distanz an.
Word origin
Gleichsam is an inherited German formation from gleich plus -sam, a suffix that can express the manner or character of something.
Usage tips
- Sozusagen is the common conversational alternative, while gleichsam often sounds formal or written.
Other meanings
- almostadverb
Opposites
- buchstäblichliterallyadverb
Related words
- Gleichberechtigungequal rightsnoun
- gleichförmiguniformadjective