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.

Free starter pack

Building your German vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common German words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore German by topic

GermanNow

German Numbers 1–100: Why 21 Is Said Backwards

German numbers 1 to 100 reverse the digits: 21 is einundzwanzig (one-and-twenty). Learn the und rule, the irregulars, and how to hear prices fast.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

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 Umlauts & ß: Sounds and Typing

Pronounce ä, ö, ü with the front-tongue, rounded-lips rule, master the ß vs ss spelling, and type every German umlaut on Mac, Windows, and phone.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

GermanNow

German Modal Verbs: Können, Müssen, Wollen and More

German modal verbs put the modal in position 2 and the real verb at the end. Master können, müssen, wollen and the rest with charts and clear examples.

June 5, 2026 5 min read