putty / glue
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putty
A soft, malleable substance used for sealing joints and fastening panes of glass in window frames. The putty hardens in the air and becomes solid.
Der Glaser ersetzte die zerbrochene Scheibe und befestigte sie mit neuem Kitt im Rahmen.
The glazier replaced the broken pane and secured it in the frame with new putty.
You can recognize the meaning from the context. If it is about crafts, windows, joints, or glass, it means the sealing compound. If people are talking about society, family, or relationships, it means social cohesion.
Der Handwerker dichtet das Fenster mit Kitt ab.
The craftsman seals the window with putty.
In a crafts context, 'Kitt' (putty) is often used with verbs such as 'auftragen' (to apply), 'entfernen' (to remove), 'abdichten' (to seal), or 'befestigen' (to fasten).
Du musst den alten, brüchigen Kitt zuerst entfernen.
You have to remove the old, brittle putty first.
In the figurative meaning, 'Kitt' (glue) is often used with the verb 'sein' (to be) or 'bilden' (to form). Typical phrases are 'der soziale Kitt' (the social glue) or 'der Kitt der Gesellschaft' (the glue of society).
Für viele ist die Familie der wichtigste Kitt im Leben.
For many people, family is the most important glue in life.
The figurative meaning of 'Kitt' (glue) is often used in journalistic, sociological, or more sophisticated texts to describe social cohesion.
Der Autor beschreibt, wie Musik als Kitt zwischen den Kulturen wirken kann.
The author describes how music can act as a glue between cultures.
cohesion / solidarity
'Zusammenhalt' and 'Kitt' can both express that a group or relationship stays connected. 'Zusammenhalt' is the normal word for the feeling of closeness, trust, and mutual support. In this meaning, 'Kitt' is figurative: something acts like a substance that glues parts together, for example humor, shared rules, or a shared problem. Learners may confuse the words because both point to connection. But the important difference is: 'Kitt' more often names what creates cohesion, while 'Zusammenhalt' describes the state of the group.
Der Humor meines Bruders ist der Kitt, der unsere Familie oft zusammenhält.
My brother's humor is the glue that often holds our family together.
Nach dem Gespräch ist der Zusammenhalt in unserer Lerngruppe wieder besser.
After the conversation, the cohesion in our study group is better again.