German · Home, Clothes & Daily Life

"Glasses (eyeglasses)" in German: Brille

die Brille

Say it: BRIL-luhfeminine · die Brillenoun/ˈbʁɪlə/

Glasses in German are die Brille — singular in German even though English uses a plural. Say Meine Brille is missing. Lenses alone are Brillengläser; contacts are Kontaktlinsen.

Morning rush

Wo liegt meine Brille?
Where are my glasses?
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How to pronounce Brille

Say it

BRIL-luh

/ˈbʁɪlə/

BRIL-luh. Short i. Soft final e.

"Glasses (eyeglasses)" in German: quick reference

GermanEnglish
die Brilleglasses / spectacles

Pair of eyeglasses (singular noun).

meine Brillemy glasses

Possessive.

Sonnenbrillesunglasses

Sun compound.

Brillenträgerglasses wearer

Person who wears glasses.

How to use Brille in real life

  1. 1Morning rush

    Wo liegt meine Brille?

    Where are my glasses?

    Meine Brille singular.

  2. 2Optician

    Diese Brille sitzt besser auf der Nase.

    These glasses sit better on the nose.

    Diese Brille.

  3. 3Reading

    Ohne Brille kann ich die Kleingedruckte nicht lesen.

    Without glasses I can't read the fine print.

    Ohne Brille.

Mistakes English speakers make with Brille

Incorrect: meine Brillen (for one pair)

Correct: meine Brille

One pair is die Brille (singular). Brillen means multiple pairs.

Incorrect: das Glasses

Correct: die Brille

Use Brille, feminine singular.

Good to know

Germans treat Brille as one object, like a pair. Putting Brille on your head when you're not wearing them is a classic absentminded move everyone jokes about.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Searching before leaving home

  1. ChatPal

    Hast du meine Brille gesehen?

    Have you seen my glasses?

  2. You

    Deine Brille liegt auf dem Kühlschrank.

    Your glasses are on the fridge.

  3. ChatPal

    Ohne Brille finde ich den Schlüssel nicht.

    Without glasses I can't find the key.

  4. You

    Hier. Setz die Brille auf und wir gehen.

    Here. Put the glasses on and we'll go.

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"Glasses (eyeglasses)" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Glasses (eyeglasses)" in German

How do you say glasses?

Die Brille (singular).

My glasses?

Meine Brille.

Sunglasses?

Sonnenbrille.

Plural Brillen?

Means more than one pair.

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