kieliszek

Kieliszek is a Polish noun meaning a small glass used for serving alcoholic beverages, especially vodka. It denotes a vessel designed to hold a modest amount of liquid and is commonly associated with toasts in Polish drinking culture. In everyday use the term can refer to any small glass, but it is most closely linked with shot-sized portions. Sizes typically range from about 20 to 40 milliliters, with 30 milliliters commonly used as a standard measure. The vessels may be plain or decorative and can be made from glass, crystal, or porcelain; stemmed varieties exist, though many versions are stemless.

Etymology-wise, the word derives from kielich, meaning chalice or cup, with the diminutive suffix -ek, yielding “little chalice” or “little cup.” This reflects a long-standing tradition of dedicated drinking vessels in Polish culture.

Kieliszek is also a Polish surname. It is derived from the same root and indicates an ancestral association with the vessel, craft, or trade related to glassware, though specific family origins vary. The surname is found in Poland and among Polish communities abroad.