01
die Brille
glasses
A visual aid consisting of a frame and two lenses, worn in front of the eyes to correct impaired vision.
example
Ich kann ohne meine Brille kaum etwas lesen.
I can hardly read anything without my glasses.
die Brille
glasses
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Context clue
By far the most common meaning of 'Brille' (glasses) is the visual aid. You will only recognize the other meanings (toilet seat, technical part) from the specific context, for example if you are in the bathroom or in a workshop.
EXAMPLE
Im Badezimmer war leider die Brille kaputt.
Unfortunately, the toilet seat in the bathroom was broken.
Typical verbs
In connection with the visual aid, there are fixed verbs you should learn: man trägt eine Brille (one wears glasses), man setzt eine Brille auf (one puts on glasses), and man nimmt eine Brille ab (one takes off glasses).
EXAMPLE
Er hat seine Brille aufgesetzt, um die Speisekarte zu lesen.
He put on his glasses to read the menu.
Important prepositions
To describe a person who wears glasses, you use the preposition 'mit' (with). The opposite is expressed with 'ohne' (without).
EXAMPLE
Der Mann mit der Brille dort drüben ist mein Onkel.
The man with the glasses over there is my uncle.
Compound words
'Brille' (glasses) is the base word for many useful compounds that describe the purpose of the glasses more precisely, for example 'Sonnenbrille' (sunglasses), 'Lesebrille' (reading glasses), or 'Schutzbrille' (safety goggles).
EXAMPLE
Auf der Baustelle ist das Tragen einer Schutzbrille Pflicht.
Wearing safety goggles is mandatory on the construction site.
Unambiguous terms
In the meaning 'Toilettensitz' (toilet seat), a more precise word such as 'Klobrille' (toilet seat) or 'Toilettenbrille' (toilet seat) is often used to avoid misunderstandings. The word 'Brille' (glasses/toilet seat) on its own is more colloquial here.
EXAMPLE
Die Klobrille war locker und musste repariert werden.
The toilet seat was loose and had to be repaired.
Compare with
Brille vs Sonnenbrille
sunglasses
'die Brille' and 'die Sonnenbrille' are both things you wear in front of your eyes. 'Brille' usually means glasses that help you see better. 'Sonnenbrille' means glasses with dark lenses that protect you from the sun and bright light. Sunglasses can also have prescription lenses, but protection from the sun is the important point. Learners may confuse the words because sunglasses are also a type of glasses. If you are talking generally about seeing better, you say 'Brille'. If it is about sun, the beach, driving in bright light, or dark lenses, 'Sonnenbrille' fits.
Brille
Ohne ihre Brille kann Anna die Tafel kaum lesen.
Without her glasses, Anna can hardly read the board.
Sonnenbrille
Im Auto setzt Tom seine Sonnenbrille auf, weil die Sonne tief steht.
In the car, Tom puts on his sunglasses because the sun is low.
In real life
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