to cling / staple
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to cling to
To hold on tightly to something or someone, often out of fear, insecurity, or desperation. It can be used both literally and figuratively.
Das kleine Kind klammerte sich ängstlich an das Bein seiner Mutter.
The small child clung anxiously to his mother's leg.
to staple
To fasten several sheets of paper or other thin materials together with a staple or paper clip.
Bitte klammere die Rechnungen zusammen, bevor du sie abheftest.
Please staple the invoices together before you file them.
to put in parentheses
To enclose a part of a text, a word, or a number in round brackets () for additional explanation or as an insertion.
Den genauen Betrag habe ich zur Sicherheit in Klammern gesetzt.
To be safe, I put the exact amount in parentheses.
to close with staples
In medicine, to close a wound with surgical staples.
Nach der Operation wurde die Wunde nicht genäht, sondern geklammert.
After the operation, the wound was not stitched but closed with staples.
The verb 'klammern' (to cling / staple) is closely connected to the noun 'die Klammer' (clip / staple / bracket). The different meanings of the verb derive from the meanings of the noun: paper clip, staple, or even surgical staple.
Ich brauche etwas, um diese Papiere zu klammern.
I need something to staple these papers.
In the meaning 'sich festhalten' (to hold on tightly), 'klammern' is reflexive and is always used with the preposition 'an' and the accusative: sich an jemanden/etwas klammern (to cling to someone/something).
Der Kletterer klammerte sich mit letzter Kraft an den Felsvorsprung.
The climber clung to the ledge with his last bit of strength.
The phrase 'sich an etwas klammern' (to cling to something) can be used literally (to physically hold on tightly) or figuratively (to hold on to an idea or hope).
Obwohl alles verloren schien, klammerte er sich an die Hoffnung auf ein Wunder.
Although everything seemed lost, he clung to the hope of a miracle.
The meaning of 'klammern' (to cling / staple) becomes clear from context. If it is about paper and office work, it means fastening sheets together. In a medical context, it refers to closing a wound.
Klammerst du bitte die Berichte für das Meeting zusammen?
Could you please staple the reports for the meeting together?
to staple / baste
Both verbs can be used for joining sheets of paper with a clip. Heften usually means fastening several sheets with a stapler and staple, while klammern also includes using a paper clip or joining other thin materials. Choose “heften” when stapling and “klammern” for the broader process.
Bitte klammere die drei Blätter mit einer Büroklammer zusammen.
Please clip the three sheets together with a paper clip.
Bitte hefte die drei Blätter mit dem Heftgerät zusammen.
Please staple the three sheets together with the stapler.
