01
die Tasse
cup
A small drinking vessel with a handle, typically used for hot drinks such as coffee or tea.
example
Möchtest du eine Tasse Tee zum Frühstück?
Would you like a cup of tea with breakfast?
die Tasse
cup
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Typical compounds
'Tasse' (cup) is often the second part of compound nouns that describe the type of drink or the function more precisely. That way, you immediately know what the cup is intended for.
EXAMPLE
Für den Espresso nehme ich eine kleine Espressotasse.
For the espresso, I use a small espresso cup.
Use as a unit of measurement
In cooking and baking recipes, 'Tasse' (cup) is often used as a unit of measurement. This does not refer to a standardized number of milliliters, but rather to the ratio of the ingredients to one another.
EXAMPLE
Für den Kuchen brauchst du zwei Tassen Mehl und eine Tasse Zucker.
For the cake, you need two cups of flour and one cup of sugar.
Fixed idiom
The expression 'nicht alle Tassen im Schrank haben' (to not have all one's cups in the cupboard) is a fixed idiom. The structure cannot be changed; only the verb 'haben' (to have) is adapted to the person. The expression is very colloquial.
EXAMPLE
Du willst bei null Grad im See baden? Du hast doch nicht alle Tassen im Schrank!
You want to go swimming in the lake at zero degrees? You must have a screw loose!
Compare with
Tasse vs Glas
glass / jar
'das Glas' and 'die Tasse' can both be drinking vessels and can also refer to an amount, for example 'ein Glas Wasser' (a glass of water) or 'eine Tasse Tee' (a cup of tea). The most important difference is the typical shape and use. A 'Glas' is usually transparent, has no handle, and is often used for cold drinks. 'Glas' can also mean the material glass, for example in windows or bottles. A 'Tasse' usually has a handle and is especially used for hot drinks such as coffee or tea. Learners often confuse the words because you can drink from both. As a practical rule: water or juice is more likely to be in a 'Glas', coffee or tea more likely in a 'Tasse'.
Tasse
Frau Kaya stellt ihre Tasse Kaffee auf den Schreibtisch.
Ms. Kaya puts her cup of coffee on the desk.
Glas
Zum Abendessen trinkt Mehmet ein Glas Wasser.
Mehmet drinks a glass of water with dinner.
In real life
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