der Kleber
glue
A substance used to join or stick two or more objects together; an adhesive.
EXAMPLE
Ich brauche einen starken Kleber, um die zerbrochene Tasse zu reparieren.
I need a strong glue to repair the broken cup.
der Kleber
glue / sticker
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Meanings
der Kleber
sticker
A colloquial term for a sticker.
EXAMPLE
Die Kinder haben die ganze Wand mit bunten Klebern verziert.
The children decorated the whole wall with colorful stickers.
Usage tips
Word family
'Der Kleber' (glue/sticker) is derived directly from the verb 'kleben' (to stick). The ending '-er' here refers to the means or tool with which the action is carried out — that is, the thing that sticks.
EXAMPLE
Mit diesem Kleber kannst du fast alles kleben.
You can glue almost anything with this glue.
Typical collocations
When referring to adhesive, 'Kleber' (glue) is often combined with adjectives such as 'stark' (strong), 'flüssig' (liquid), or 'schnelltrocknend' (quick-drying). People also often talk about a 'Tube Kleber' (tube of glue).
EXAMPLE
Für diese Reparatur brauchst du einen wirklich starken Kleber.
For this repair, you need a really strong glue.
Context clue
You can tell from the context whether glue or a sticker is meant. If the text mentions 'sammeln' (to collect), 'verzieren' (to decorate), or 'bunte Kleber' (colorful stickers, in the plural), it usually means stickers.
EXAMPLE
Mein kleiner Bruder sammelt Kleber von verschiedenen Fußballvereinen.
My little brother collects stickers from different football clubs.
Register: colloquial
Using 'Kleber' to mean a sticker is mainly colloquial. In more formal contexts or in written German, this meaning is used less often.
EXAMPLE
Sein Laptop ist voller bunter Kleber.
His laptop is full of colorful stickers.
Compare with
Kleber vs Leim
glue
Kleber is a general term for a substance that bonds objects together. Leim is also a type of glue, but it is used especially for wood, paper, or cardboard. For other materials, Kleber is therefore usually the better choice.
Kleber
Für das kaputte Plastikspielzeug nimmt Tom einen starken Kleber.
Tom uses a strong adhesive for the broken plastic toy.
Leim
Für den kaputten Holzstuhl nimmt Tom einen starken Leim.
Tom uses a strong glue for the broken wooden chair.
In real life
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