gerade vs. gleich in German: Meaning & Usage
Sorry, ich bin gerade beschäftigt. Ich bin gleich fertig. Gerade and gleich are very common in everyday German, and they are easy to mix up. In this lesson, Luzi from YourGermanteacher explains the simple difference: gerade is about now or just now, gleich is about a moment from now.
gerade: Right Now or Just Now
Gerade describes something that is happening right now or has just happened. You use it with the Präsens for the present, and with the Perfekt or Präteritum for something that has just happened.
- Sorry, ich bin gerade beschäftigt. (right now)
- Meine Frau arbeitet gerade. (right now)
- Ich habe gerade gegessen. (just now)
gleich: In a Moment
Gleich describes something that will happen very soon. You use it with the Präsens or the Futur.
- Ich bin gleich fertig.
- Ich komme gleich.
Summary
| Word | Time | Tense |
|---|---|---|
| gerade | right now / just now | Präsens, Perfekt, Präteritum |
| gleich | in a moment | Präsens, Futur |
Similar Words
- bald vs. gleich: bald means soon, but it can be days or weeks away. Gleich means in a few minutes.
- soeben: means just now, only for the past, and is more formal or written.
- sofort and jetzt: sofort means immediately, jetzt means now.
Bonus: nicht gerade + Adjective
Nicht gerade before an adjective is ironic: Das ist nicht gerade billig means "that is not exactly cheap". Here gerade is a modal particle and has nothing to do with time.
Homework
Write one sentence with gerade and one with gleich in the comments.
What to Learn Next
Learn more time words in When to use erst & schon in German and The 4 meanings of NOCH. For how to speak about the future, read How to talk about the future in German.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between gerade and gleich?
Gerade means right now or just now. Gleich means in a moment, so it points to the near future.
Which tenses go with gerade?
The Präsens for right now, and the Perfekt or Präteritum for something that has just happened.
Which tenses go with gleich?
The Präsens or the Futur.
What is the difference between bald and gleich?
Bald means soon and can be far away. Gleich means in a few minutes.
What does nicht gerade mean?
Before an adjective it is ironic and means not exactly, for example nicht gerade billig.
Want to sound natural in everyday German? Our A2 German online course practises these common words step by step.
