small glass / small jar
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small glass
A small glass typically used for drinking alcoholic beverages such as schnapps, liqueur, or sparkling wine.
Nach dem üppigen Essen bot der Wirt ein Gläschen Schnaps zur Verdauung an.
After the lavish meal, the innkeeper offered a small glass of schnapps as a digestif.
'Gläschen' (small glass/small jar) is the diminutive form of 'das Glas' (the glass/jar). The ending '-chen' makes the noun small and cute and always gives it the article 'das'.
Kann ich bitte ein kleines Gläschen Wasser haben?
Could I please have a small glass of water?
The context makes the difference: if people are talking about 'Sekt' (sparkling wine), 'Wein' (wine), or 'Schnaps' (schnapps), it means a small drinking glass. If it is about 'Babynahrung' (baby food), 'Marmelade' (jam), or 'Gewürze' (spices), it means a small storage jar with a lid.
Wollen wir zum Anstoßen ein Gläschen Sekt trinken?
Shall we drink a small glass of sparkling wine to toast?
The question 'Noch ein Gläschen?' (another little glass?) or the invitation 'ein Gläschen trinken gehen' (to go for a little drink) is a very common, informal, and friendly way to offer someone an alcoholic drink.
Lass uns nach der Arbeit noch ein Gläschen Wein trinken gehen.
Let's go have a small glass of wine after work.
In this meaning, 'Gläschen' (small jar) is often combined with baby foods or small portions. Typical phrases are 'ein Gläschen Brei' (a small jar of puree/porridge), 'ein Gläschen Obstmus' (a small jar of fruit puree), or 'ein Gläschen Joghurt' (a small jar of yogurt).
Für den Ausflug packe ich zwei Gläschen mit Gemüsebrei ein.
For the trip, I'm packing two small jars of vegetable puree.
glass / jar
'das Glas' and 'das Gläschen' can both mean a small container made of glass. 'das Glas' is the normal word for a drinking vessel, for an amount like 'ein Glas Wasser' (a glass of water), or for a jar with a lid, for example jam. 'das Gläschen' is the diminutive form and sounds smaller or a bit more special. It often means a small glass for alcohol, for example schnapps or sparkling wine, or a small glass container for baby food. Learners can confuse the words because both refer to real glass containers. As a practical rule: in everyday life, people usually say 'Glas'. 'Gläschen' fits when the glass is small or when you are specifically thinking of a small drink or a small container.
Zum Geburtstag hat die Oma ein kleines Gläschen Sekt getrunken.
For her birthday, Grandma drank a small glass of sparkling wine.
Nach dem Sport trinkt Tom ein großes Glas Wasser.
After exercising, Tom drinks a large glass of water.