Gleichnis

parable

noun GLYKH-niss Rare

Origin: from gleich, 'like, equal'

Also means

simile

Usage Note

Gleichnis is a parable, especially the biblical kind, and more broadly a simile or extended comparison. From gleich (alike). The plural is Gleichnisse; in Goethe's Faust Alles Vergängliche ist nur ein Gleichnis.

Examples

"Jesus erzählte das Gleichnis vom verlorenen Sohn."

Natural Translation

Jesus told the parable of the prodigal son.

Literal Translation

Jesus told the parable of-the lost son.

Related Words

Explore German by topic

GermanNow

Order Food in German: Restaurant Phrases

Order food in German with confidence: use ich hätte gern, read the Speisekarte, ask die Rechnung bitte, and handle zusammen oder getrennt like a local.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

GermanNow

German Separable Verbs: When the Prefix Splits

German separable verbs split in two: the verb stays near the front and the prefix flies to the end. Learn the stress test and where every piece goes.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

GermanNow

German Word Order: The Verb Rules That Trip You Up

German word order comes down to three verb-position rules: the verb is second in main clauses, last after weil and dass, and time comes before place.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

GermanNow

Der, Die, Das: Rules to Guess German Gender

German noun gender rules made simple: check the suffix first, then meaning. Endings like -ung, -chen, and -ling predict der, die, or das with ~90% accuracy.

June 5, 2026 6 min read