Gläsern

Gläsern is a German adjective describing qualities related to glass. It can indicate that something is made of glass, glassy in appearance, or transparent. In everyday language it is commonly used in combination with nouns to convey a glass-like or translucent character.

In design, architecture and manufacturing, gläsern describes surfaces, vessels, and structures that involve glass or have a glassy look. Typical collocations include gläserne Oberfläche (glass surface), gläserne Vase (glass vase), and gläserne Fassade (glass facade). The term emphasizes characteristics such as clarity, fragility, and smoothness, and it is part of the usual system of declension in German, taking different endings to match gender, number and case (for example gläserne, gläserner, gläsernes in attributive use).

In cultural and metaphorical use, gläsern can convey openness or exposure. The phrase der gläserne Mensch is a well-known metaphor in discussions of privacy and surveillance, suggesting that personal data and behavior are easily visible or scrutinizable. This figurative use relies on the transparent connotation of glass to express vulnerability or accountability in modern society.

See also: Glas, Glasur, Transparent, Datenschutz.