to align
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to align
To change something so that it becomes more similar to another thing or matches it; to adapt or harmonize something.
Die Firma muss die Gehälter der neuen Mitarbeiter an das bestehende Lohnniveau angleichen.
The company has to align the salaries of the new employees with the existing wage level.
to adapt
To adjust to something or someone and thereby become more similar; to adapt oneself.
Nach einem Jahr im Ausland hatte sich sein Akzent dem der Einheimischen angeglichen.
After a year abroad, his accent had adapted to that of the locals.
'Angleichen' (to align / to adapt) is a separable verb. The prefix 'an-' separates from the verb in a main clause and stands at the end of the sentence.
Der Betrieb gleicht die Arbeitszeiten an die neuen Regeln an.
The company aligns working hours with the new rules.
The difference between the meanings is grammatically clear: Without 'sich', it means that the subject changes another thing (the object). With the reflexive pronoun 'sich', it means that the subject changes or adapts itself.
Wir gleichen die Farben dem Original an.
We align the colors with the original.
When something is adjusted, the structure is: subject + 'angleichen' (to align) + accusative object (what is being adjusted?) + 'an' + accusative object (what is it being adjusted to?).
Die Schule muss ihren Lehrplan an die modernen Anforderungen angleichen.
The school has to align its curriculum with modern requirements.
When someone or something adapts, the structure is: subject + 'sich angleichen' (to adapt oneself) + 'an' + accusative object (what does it adapt to?).
Ein Chamäleon kann sich an seine Umgebung angleichen.
A chameleon can adapt to its surroundings.
to adapt / adjust
Anpassen generally means making something suitable for specific requirements. Angleichen, by contrast, emphasizes making something more similar to another thing or bringing it into agreement with it. The key question is therefore whether suitability or greater similarity is the main focus.
Das Team gleicht den neuen Plan an den Plan der Partnerfirma an.
The team aligns the new plan with the partner company's plan.
Das Team passt den neuen Plan an das kleinere Budget an.
The team adjusts the new plan to fit the smaller budget.
