German word

gläsern

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈglɛːzɐn/

Meaning

  • adjectiveglass-walled

Example

Er arbeitet in einem gläsernen Büro.

He works in a glass-walled office.

Illustration for gläsern (glass-walled)

More examples

Die gläserne Vitrine schützt die Exponate und macht sie sichtbar.

The glass display case protects the exhibits and makes them visible.

Core concept

A building with glass walls lets people see from the inside out and from the outside in, suggesting openness that can also become figurative exposure.

Common phrases

  • gläserne Vitrine

    glass display case

  • gläserne Kuppel

    glass dome

Similar words

durchsichtig: Allowing light through so the other side can be seen clearly.
transparent: Making contents or processes clear and easy to understand from outside.
verglast: Fitted with glass panels to form windows or walls.

Definition in German

Durch sichtbare Glasflächen gekennzeichnet; vor allem für Fassaden, gelegentlich im übertragenen Sinn.

Word origin

Gläsern is formed from the noun Glas with the adjective suffix -ern, with umlauted ä in the derived form.

Usage tips

  • In ordinary material descriptions, aus Glas is often more natural than gläsern, while gläsern is especially common for facades, buildings, and figurative openness.

Other meanings

  • made of glassadjective
  • transparentadjective

Opposites

  • undurchsichtigopaqueadjective

Related words

  • verglastglazedadjective
  • Verglasungglazingnoun

Word lists with this word