German Phrase

Schneller als DSL, langsamer als Glasfaser.

/ˈʃnɛlɐ al ˈdeː ɛs ˈʔel, ˈlaŋzəmɐ al ˈɡlaːsˈfaːzɐ/

Meaning"Faster than DSL, slower than fiber."

💡

Meaning

The sentence means “Faster than DSL, slower than fiber‑optic.” It is a concise way to position a technology or service between two known benchmarks, usually referring to internet connection speeds.

🎯

When to use

Use this phrase when you want to compare the performance of a product, service, or technology with DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) and fiber‑optic broadband. It works well in tech reviews, casual conversations about internet plans, or marketing copy that needs a quick comparative punch.

✦Grammar Breakdown

SchnelleralsDSL,langsameralsGlasfaser.

Komparativ (Schneller / Langsamer)

Add -er to the adjective (schnell → schneller, langsam → langsamer) and use 'als' for comparison.

Vergleichspartikel 'als'

After a comparative adjective, German uses 'als' (not 'wie') to introduce the thing you compare to.

Komma im Vergleich

A comma can separate two parallel comparative clauses for clarity, especially in written style.

🗨In Conversation

Schneller als DSL, langsamer als Glasfaser.

Faster than DSL, slower than fiber.

Also ist dein neuer Router nicht ganz so schnell wie die Glasfaser‑Anbindung?

So your new router isn’t quite as fast as a fiber connection?

✕Common Mistakes

Schneller wie DSL, langsamer wie Glasfaser.
After a comparative adjective you must use 'als', not 'wie'.
Schneller als DSL, langsamer als Glasfaser.
If you want to stress the opposite direction, you could say 'nicht so schnell wie Glasfaser' instead of the literal 'langsamer als Glasfaser'.

↔Alternatives

Schneller als DSL, aber nicht so schnell wie Glasfaser.
Faster than DSL, but not as fast as fiber.
Mehr Geschwindigkeit als DSL, weniger als Glasfaser.
More speed than DSL, less than fiber.
Zwischen DSL und Glasfaser liegt die Geschwindigkeit.
The speed lies between DSL and fiber.

Cultural Tip

In German, the comparative form always pairs with 'als' for a direct comparison. Using 'wie' after a comparative (e.g., *schneller wie DSL*) is a common mistake for English speakers. Also, Germans often use short, punchy comparative clauses in tech marketing to quickly convey performance tiers.