This is the 15184th most frequent German word.
than
The German language does not have the word "than." In English, "than" is used for comparisons. In German, "als" is its equivalent.
Here, 'als' is used to mean 'than' in a comparison of height.
Er ist größer als ich.
He is taller than I am.
In this sentence, 'als' introduces the second element being compared in a preferential context.
Es ist eher ein Buch als ein Tagebuch.
It is more a book than a diary.
Here, 'als' is utilized to contrast two actions where a preference is expressed for one action over the other.