stein

stein — noun

1. a lidded drinking cup made from pottery or stoneware, fitted with a side handle

1.nounB1
Definition

a lidded drinking cup made from pottery or stoneware, fitted with a side handle and traditionally used for beer; many examples are decorated with painted scenes or ornamental patterns

Example

Benjamin brought back a painted stein from the Oktoberfest in Munich.

collocation: painted stein (decorated ceramic mug)

Hiro's stein had a scene of a castle painted on the front.

possessive construction: [owner]'s stein

Common collocations
  • painted stein
  • ceramic stein
  • beer stein
  • lift a stein
  • fill a stein
Synonyms
  • tankard

    a larger drinking vessel with a handle, usually made of metal or glass, and often without a lid

  • beer mug

    a simpler, more general term for a large cup for beer, not necessarily ceramic or lidded

Grammar Patterns

a + stein

stein + of + beverage

Usage Note

In most English-speaking regions, stein specifically refers to a lidded ceramic mug — unlike a pint glass (a simple glass without a handle or lid). The word is most common in contexts related to German beer-drinking culture.

Common Mistakes

I ordered a stein of cola.
I ordered a stein of beer.
A stein is specifically for beer, not for other drinks.
She washed the glass stein after dinner.
She washed the ceramic stein after dinner.
A stein is traditionally made of clay or stoneware, not glass.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three terms refer to sturdy drinking vessels for beer, but they differ in material and design. Stein (from German Stein 'stone') always implies a ceramic or stoneware mug, typically with a hinged lid and decorative painting. Tankard can be metal, glass, or ceramic and is usually larger and plainer, often with a glass bottom so drinkers can check their beer's clarity. Beer mug is the broadest, everyday term for any heavy, handled cup used for beer — it does not specify material or whether it has a lid. If you are describing a lidded, painted ceramic mug from a German festival, stein is the precise word. For a plain metal cup in a pub, tankard works better. In casual conversation, beer mug is the safest choice.

stein ↗tankardbeer mug

Common collocations

Nouns

  • beer stein
  • ceramic stein
  • clay stein
  • painted stein

Phrases

  • lift a stein
  • raise a stein

Prepositions

  • stein of [beer]

Etymology

GermanEnglish

Stein comes from the German word Stein, a short form of Steingut meaning 'stone goods'. It refers to the hard, durable stoneware clay from which traditional German beer mugs were made. The word entered English in the mid-19th century alongside the growing popularity of German beer culture.