ProverbHuman Nature
German origin
German originGleich und gleich gesellt sich gern
Meaning: People tend to seek out others like themselves.
Literally: Like and like gladly keep company
Example: “Die beiden Bücherwürmer sind unzertrennlich. Gleich und gleich gesellt sich gern.” — Those two bookworms are inseparable: birds of a feather flock together.
Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, Japanese, Italian, and 7 more languages
English: Birds of a feather flock together
French: Qui se ressemble s'assemble (literally: Those who resemble each other gather together)
Spanish: Dios los cría y ellos se juntan (literally: God raises them and they come together)
Japanese: 類は友を呼ぶ (Rui wa tomo o yobu) (literally: Like calls to like)
Italian: Chi si somiglia si piglia (literally: Those who are alike take to each other)
Portuguese: Cada qual com o seu igual (literally: Each one with his equal)
Dutch: Soort zoekt soort (literally: Kind seeks kind)
Russian: Рыбак рыбака видит издалека (Rybak rybaka vidit izdaleka) (literally: A fisherman spots a fisherman from afar)
Polish: Ciągnie swój do swego (literally: One's own draws to one's own)
Chinese: 物以类聚 (Wù yǐ lèi jù) (literally: Things gather by kind)
Korean: 가재는 게 편 (Gajaeneun ge pyeon) (literally: The crayfish sides with the crab)
Arabic: الطيور على أشكالها تقع (Aṭ-ṭuyūr ʿalā ashkālihā taqaʿ) (literally: Birds land with their own kind)
Origin: Cicero already called it an old proverb: in On Old Age (44 BC) he writes that equals gather most easily with equals, pares cum paribus facillime congregantur.
Explore another collection: Tongue Twisters
Tricky phrases to practice out loud, from languages around the world.
- Fischers Fritz fischt frische Fische, frische Fische fischt Fischers Fritz. The German 'f' / 'sch' staple.
- Blaukraut bleibt Blaukraut und Brautkleid bleibt Brautkleid. A 'bl' / 'br' brain-twister.
- Zehn zahme Ziegen ziehen zehn Zentner Zucker zum Zoo. A sustained 'z' / 'ts' drill — every word starts with the same affricate.
Keep exploring