German word

ungleich

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʊnglaɪ̯ç/

Meaning

  • adjectiveunequal

Example

Die beiden Zahlen sind ungleich.

The two numbers are not equal.

Illustration for ungleich (unequal)

More examples

Ungleiche Behandlung ist nicht akzeptabel.

Unequal treatment is not acceptable.

Core concept

A balance holds two loads at different heights, with the difference visible between them.

Common phrases

  • ungleiche Behandlung

    unequal treatment

  • ungleiche Bildungschancen

    unequal educational opportunities

  • ungleiche Einkommen

    unequal incomes

Similar words

unterschiedlich: Varying in extent or quality, with no consistent uniformity.
verschieden: Separate in kind or composition and not identical.
anders: Distinct in character or appearance from other things.
ungleichmäßig: Not even in distribution or shape, with noticeable differences between parts.

Definition in German

Bezeichnet, dass zwei Größen, Werte oder Merkmale nicht miteinander übereinstimmen.

Word origin

The compound ungleich joins un- for negation with gleich, whose older Germanic sense referred to being alike or the same.

Usage tips

  • Before a comparative adjective, ungleich can mean "much" or "considerably," as in ungleich groesser, rather than marking a simple mismatch.

Other meanings

  • unevenadjective
  • nonuniformadjective

Opposites

Related words

  • Ungleichheitinequalitynoun
  • ungleichmäßigunevenadjective

Word lists with this word