hallway / course / gear
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hallway / corridor
A long, narrow space in a building that connects different rooms; a hall or corridor.
Die Toiletten befinden sich am Ende des Ganges auf der linken Seite.
The restrooms are at the end of the hallway on the left-hand side.
course
One part of a multi-course meal, for example an appetizer, main course, or dessert.
Als ersten Gang gab es eine Tomatensuppe.
The first course was tomato soup.
gait
The way a person walks.
Man erkannte ihn schon von Weitem an seinem schwankenden Gang.
You could recognize him from far away by his unsteady gait.
gear
A gear setting in a vehicle or bicycle.
Für den steilen Anstieg musst du in den ersten Gang schalten.
For the steep climb, you have to shift into first gear.
course / progression
The course or development of events or processes.
Der normale Gang der Dinge wurde durch die unerwartete Nachricht gestört.
The normal course of events was disrupted by the unexpected news.
errand / trip
A short walk made in order to take care of something.
Ich mache nur schnell einen Gang zur Post, um den Brief einzuwerfen.
I'm just making a quick trip to the post office to mail the letter.
to get/start going
To start or begin something; to make sure something begins to function or develop.
Es dauerte eine Weile, bis die Diskussion richtig in Gang kam.
It took a while before the discussion really got going.
The noun 'der Gang' is derived directly from the verb 'gehen' (to go/walk). Almost all meanings have to do with some form of movement, progress, or course, which makes it easier to understand.
Der Gang der Geschichte lässt sich nicht aufhalten.
The course of history cannot be stopped.
The expression 'in Gang kommen/bringen' is very common. 'Etwas in Gang bringen' means that a person actively starts something. 'Etwas kommt in Gang' describes a process beginning to run by itself.
Ein Investor hat das Projekt mit einer Spende in Gang gebracht.
An investor got the project going with a donation.
In the context of food and restaurants, 'Gang' refers to one part of a menu. It is often used with ordinal numbers (first, second course) or in compounds like 'Hauptgang' (main course) or 'Vorspeise' (appetizer).
Das Menü besteht aus vier Gängen.
The menu consists of four courses.
When talking about cars or bicycles, 'der Gang' is the gear. Typical verbs in this context are 'schalten' (to shift/change gears) and 'einlegen' (to put into gear).
Du musst den Gang wechseln, wenn der Motor zu laut wird.
You have to change gear when the engine gets too loud.
In an abstract, often formal meaning, 'Gang' describes the course of events. A very typical expression is 'der Gang der Dinge' (the course of things/events).
Wir können den Gang der Ereignisse nicht mehr beeinflussen.
We can no longer influence the course of events.
When 'Gang' describes a short trip on foot, it is usually about taking care of something. It is often combined with 'machen' (to make/do) or 'erledigen' (to take care of) and a destination.
Ich mache nur schnell einen Gang zum Supermarkt.
I'm just making a quick trip to the supermarket.
In buildings, 'der Gang' is always a hall or corridor. Typical prepositions are 'im Gang' (in the hallway; position) or 'den Gang entlang' (down/along the hallway; direction).
Bitte warten Sie einen Moment im Gang.
Please wait a moment in the hallway.
step
Schritt and Gang can both show how someone walks. Schritt focuses more on the individual steps, such as their length or pace; Gang describes a person's overall pattern of movement. Schritt fits individual features, while Gang fits the general way someone walks.
An ihrem vorsichtigen Gang merkte man, dass sie Schmerzen hatte.
You could tell from her cautious gait that she was in pain.
An ihren kurzen, vorsichtigen Schritten merkte man, dass sie Schmerzen hatte.
You could tell from her short, cautious steps that she was in pain.
