to pinch / wedge
Loading your saved state.
to pinch / trap
To trap something or someone between two objects or in a narrow gap so firmly that it can no longer move. This often happens accidentally and can be painful.
Ich habe mir beim Schließen der Tür den Finger eingeklemmt.
I pinched my finger while closing the door.
to tuck
To push an object, usually something flat, under one's arm or into a narrow gap in order to hold or carry it.
Er klemmte die Aktenmappe unter den Arm und verließ das Büro.
He tucked the briefcase under his arm and left the office.
to squeeze in
To force oneself into a very tight space, often because no other space is available.
Wir mussten uns zu dritt auf die kleine Rückbank einklemmen.
The three of us had to squeeze into the small back seat.
'Einklemmen' (to pinch/wedge) is a separable verb. The prefix 'ein-' comes at the end in main clauses, remains attached to the verb in subordinate clauses, and in infinitive constructions 'zu' goes between the prefix and the verb.
Vorsicht, du klemmst das Kabel ein!
Careful, you're pinching the cable!
When someone accidentally pinches a body part, a special reflexive construction with dative and accusative is used: sich [Dativ] etwas [Akkusativ] einklemmen (to pinch one's something).
Ich habe mir die Hand in der Autotür eingeklemmt.
I pinched my hand in the car door.
When carrying something, the fixed phrase 'etwas unter den Arm klemmen' (to tuck something under one's arm) is often used. Typical objects are flat items such as a newspaper, a book, or a folder.
Er klemmte die Zeitung unter den Arm und rannte zum Bus.
He tucked the newspaper under his arm and ran to the bus.
In the meaning 'sich in einen engen Raum zwängen' (to squeeze oneself into a tight space), the verb 'einklemmen' (to squeeze in) is always used reflexively. It describes how people arrange themselves in a place with little room.
Wir klemmten uns zu viert auf das kleine Sofa.
The four of us squeezed onto the small sofa.
to jam / to pinch
Both words can describe something being blocked between two objects or in a narrow gap. „Einklemmen“ usually refers to causing something to become stuck, while „klemmen“ expresses the state or a less deliberate action. Use „einklemmen“ when someone traps something and „klemmen“ when something is stuck.
Beim Schließen der Tür klemmte ich versehentlich das Kabel ein.
I accidentally trapped the cable when I closed the door.
Beim Schließen der Tür klemmte das Kabel zwischen Tür und Rahmen.
When I closed the door, the cable got stuck between the door and the frame.
