German · A2 · Everyday language
Just as tall as you in German
Use so ... wie and genauso ... wie to notice shared qualities, and nicht so ... wie to describe differences gently during play and everyday routines.
What you'll learn
- Describe equal qualities with so ... wie.
- Emphasize equality with genauso ... wie.
- Describe a lesser degree of a quality with nicht so ... wie.
- Compare qualities and actions using words such as hoch, weich and weit.
German phrases for just as tall as you
Mein Turm ist so hoch wie deiner.
My tower is as tall as yours.
For the height of a tower, use hoch. So hoch wie means 'as tall as'.
Dieses Kissen ist genauso weich wie Teddy.
This cushion is just as soft as Teddy.
Genauso weich wie emphasizes that both are equally soft. Teddy is used as the toy's name.
Dein Keks ist so groß wie meiner.
Your biscuit is as big as mine.
So groß wie compares size without saying that either biscuit is bigger.
Ich kann genauso weit springen wie du.
I can jump just as far as you.
Genauso weit ... wie compares jumping distance; springen sits between weit and wie here.
Diese Kiste ist nicht so schwer wie die da.
This box is not as heavy as that one.
Nicht so schwer wie means 'not as heavy as'. Die da is a natural spoken way to say 'that one' while pointing.
Das Wasser ist nicht so kalt wie gestern.
The water is not as cold as yesterday.
The comparison can refer to a time: wie gestern means 'as yesterday'.
Unsere kleine Trommel ist so laut wie deine.
Our little drum is as loud as yours.
So laut wie says that the drums are equally loud.
Dieses Puzzle ist nicht so einfach wie das andere.
This puzzle is not as easy as the other one.
Nicht so einfach wie describes a lower degree of ease.
Hear these phrases and practise them
Tildi plays every phrase out loud, tests you in five-minute lessons and builds them into bedtime stories from your own picture books.
Try it free for 7 daysKey words
der Turm
tower
Plural: die Türme.
das Kissen
cushion; pillow
Plural: die Kissen.
der Teddy
teddy bear
Plural: die Teddys. Also used as a toy's name: Teddy.
der Keks
biscuit; cookie
Plural: die Kekse.
die Kiste
box; crate
Plural: die Kisten.
das Wasser
water
Normally used without a plural in everyday talk.
die Trommel
drum
Plural: die Trommeln.
das Puzzle
jigsaw puzzle
Plural: die Puzzles.
hoch
high; tall
Used for the height of things such as towers.
weich
soft
weit
far
Used to compare distances.
schwer
heavy
Can also mean 'difficult'; here it describes weight.
einfach
easy; simple
Equal qualities: so ... wie and genauso ... wie
Use so + adjective + wie for 'as ... as'. Use genauso + adjective + wie for 'just as ... as', emphasizing equality. Keep the adjective in its basic form. These patterns use wie, not als.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Equality | so + adjective + wie | Mein Turm ist so hoch wie deiner. |
| Emphasized equality | genauso + adjective + wie | Dieses Kissen ist genauso weich wie Teddy. |
| Comparing an action | genauso weit ... wie | Ich kann genauso weit springen wie du. |
Unequal qualities: nicht so ... wie
Put nicht before so to say that something has less of a quality: nicht so kalt wie means 'not as cold as'. After wie, you can name a thing, a person or a time.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Comparing weight | nicht so schwer wie | Diese Kiste ist nicht so schwer wie die da. |
| Comparing with another time | nicht so kalt wie | Das Wasser ist nicht so kalt wie gestern. |
| Comparing ease | nicht so einfach wie | Dieses Puzzle ist nicht so einfach wie das andere. |
More examples
Du bist genauso groß wie ich.
You are just as tall as me.
For a person's height, groß is natural.
Dieses Kissen ist so weich wie deins.
This cushion is as soft as yours.
So ... wie describes equal softness.
Ich kann nicht so weit springen wie du.
I cannot jump as far as you.
Nicht so ... wie can compare actions too.