das  Glas

A1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ɡlas/

📜 What does "das Glas" mean?

Das Glas is a versatile German word with several main meanings:

• Drinking glass: The most common meaning. A container, usually made of Glas (glass), used for drinking. Example: Bitte gib mir ein Glas Wasser. (Please give me a glass of water.)
• Material: The hard, brittle, transparent substance itself. Example: Das Fenster ist aus Glas. (The window is made of glass.)
• Unit/Quantity: Refers to the contents of a drinking glass. Example: Ich trinke jeden Morgen ein Glas Orangensaft. (I drink a glass of orange juice every morning.)
• Eyeglass lens: A single lens of a pair of glasses (although 'die Brille' (the glasses) as a whole is feminine, 'das Glas' here refers to a single lens element). In plural, 'die Gläser' is often synonymous with 'die Brille'. Example: Mein rechtes Brillenglas hat einen Kratzer. (My right eyeglass lens has a scratch.)
• Pane of glass: A flat sheet of glass, e.g., in a window or door. Example: Die Einbrecher haben ein Glas eingeschlagen. (The burglars broke a pane of glass.)

⚠️ Important: Although there are different meanings, the article always remains das.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📊 Grammar & Declension of "das Glas"

"Glas" is a noun (Nomen) with the article das. It is therefore neuter (sächlich).

Declension Singular

Note: In the Dative Singular, the ending -e (dem Glase) is possible but considered more formal or archaic. "Dem Glas" is common.

Declension Plural

💡 Example Sentences for Grammar

1. Das Glas steht auf dem Tisch. (The glass is on the table.) - Nominative Singular
2. Der Fuß des Glases ist zerbrochen. (The foot of the glass is broken.) - Genitive Singular
3. Ich stoße mit dem Glas an. (I clink glasses with the glass.) - Dative Singular
4. Er trinkt das Glas leer. (He drinks the glass empty.) - Accusative Singular
5. Die Gläser sind sauber. (The glasses are clean.) - Nominative Plural
6. Die Scherben der Gläser liegen überall. (The shards of the glasses are lying everywhere.) - Genitive Plural
7. Wir trinken aus den Gläsern. (We drink from the glasses.) - Dative Plural
8. Sie stellt die Gläser in den Schrank. (She puts the glasses in the cupboard.) - Accusative Plural

🗣️ How to use "das Glas"?

Typical Contexts

• In the household & for eating/drinking: Here, "das Glas" usually refers to the drinking vessel. You talk about a Wasserglas (water glass), Weinglas (wine glass), Saftglas (juice glass), etc. The quantity measurement ("ein Glas Milch" - a glass of milk) is also common here.
• With materials & construction: When talking about the material itself, e.g., Fensterglas (window glass), Panzerglas (bulletproof glass), Glaswolle (glass wool).
• In optics: In connection with glasses (die Gläser) or lenses.

Difference to "Tasse" and "Becher"

• Das Glas: Usually transparent, often without a handle (except Teeglas), for cold or warm drinks.
• Die Tasse (cup): Mostly made of porcelain or ceramic, with a handle, typically for hot drinks (coffee, tea).
• Der Becher (cup/mug/beaker): Can be made of various materials (plastic, cardboard, metal, ceramic), often without a handle, for cold and warm drinks. Can sometimes be used synonymously with "Glas" (e.g., ein Becher Joghurt vs. ein Glas Joghurt - a pot/glass of yogurt).

The choice depends on the material, shape, and typical use.

🧠 Mnemonics for "das Glas"

Article Mnemonic (das)

Imagine: Das neutral Glas sits in the middle of the table; it's neither masculine (der) nor feminine (die), just das Glas. It's transparent and neutral. The '-as' ending often hints at das.

Meaning Mnemonic

The German word Glas sounds almost exactly like the English word "glass". If you think of "glass", the drinking vessel and the material will surely come to mind immediately! Sounds the same, means (almost) the same! ✨

↔️ Synonyms, Antonyms & Similar Words

Synonyms (Similar Meaning)

• For drinking vessel: der Becher (cup/beaker, depending on context), das Trinkglas (drinking glass, more specific), der Kelch (goblet, for wine/champagne)
• For material: Rarely direct synonyms, more descriptions like durchsichtiger Werkstoff (transparent material)
• For pane of glass: die Scheibe (pane/disc), die Fensterscheibe (window pane)

Antonyms (Opposites)

• For material: das Plastik (plastic), das Metall (metal), das Holz (wood), die Keramik (ceramic) - other materials
• For transparent: opak (opaque), undurchsichtig (non-transparent)

🚨 Caution! Similar Sounding Words!

• Die Glasur (glaze): Sounds similar, but it's a shiny coating (e.g., on cakes or ceramics).
• Die Glatze (bald head): Phonetically unrelated to Glas.

😄 A Little Joke about Glas

Kellner: "Ist Ihr Glas leer?"
Gast: "Nein, wieso? Ich bin Pessimist."

Translation:
Waiter: "Is your glass empty?"
Guest: "No, why? I'm a pessimist."

(Alluding to the glass half full/half empty concept)

✒️ A Short Poem about das Glas

Das Glas, so klar und rein,
hält Wasser, Saft und Wein.
Zerbrechlich ist's, gib acht,
sonst ist's schnell entzwei gemacht.
Durchs Fenster scheint die Sonn' herein,
durch Glas, so hell und fein.

Rough Translation:
The glass, so clear and pure,
holds water, juice, and wine, secure.
It's fragile, take care,
or it's quickly broken beyond repair.
Through the window, the sun shines in,
through glass, so bright and thin.

❓ Riddle Time

Ich bin durchsichtig, doch nicht Luft,
man trinkt aus mir mit süßem Duft.
Man schaut durch mich, bei Tag und Nacht,
doch fall ich runter, ist's vollbracht.

Was bin ich?

Translation:
I'm transparent, but not air,
people drink from me with sweet flair.
You look through me, by day and night,
but if I fall, it's end of light.

What am I?

Solution: Das Glas (The glass)

🧐 More about "das Glas"

Compound Words (Komposita)

"Glas" is very productive in forming compound words:

• Glasflasche (glass bottle)
• Glastür (glass door)
• Glasauge (glass eye)
• Glasfaser (glass fiber / optical fiber)
• Glasbläser (glassblower - the person)
• Weinglas, Bierglas, Sektglas (wine glass, beer glass, champagne glass)
• Fensterglas, Panzerglas (window glass, bulletproof glass)

Cultural Notes & Trivia

• Glasrecycling (Glass Recycling): Used glass (Altglas) is collected and recycled in Germany – an important environmental contribution. Note the separation by color (Weißglas, Grünglas, Braunglas - clear, green, brown glass)!
• Glasbläserei (Glassblowing): An old craft where glass is shaped by heating and blowing.
• Anstoßen (Clinking glasses): Clinking glasses ("Prost!" - Cheers!) is a common custom when drinking to something or honoring someone.