der Kontakt
contact
The connection or exchange between people or groups.
EXAMPLE
Es ist wichtig, den Kontakt zu alten Freunden zu pflegen.
It's important to maintain contact with old friends.
der Kontakt
contact
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Meanings
der Kontakt
contact
A person you know who can be useful to you professionally or privately.
EXAMPLE
Durch einen Kontakt in der Firma hat er die Stelle bekommen.
He got the position through a contact at the company.
der Kontakt
contact
Physical touch between two or more objects or surfaces.
EXAMPLE
Vermeiden Sie direkten Kontakt der Chemikalie mit der Haut.
Avoid direct contact of the chemical with the skin.
der Kontakt
contact
A point in an electrical device where a circuit is closed or interrupted.
EXAMPLE
Die Lampe flackert, weil der Stecker einen Wackelkontakt hat.
The lamp is flickering because the plug has a loose contact.
Usage tips
Typical collocations
For social connections, there are fixed verb combinations. You can 'Kontakt aufnehmen' (make contact/get in touch) to begin, 'Kontakt halten' (keep in contact) or 'pflegen' (maintain) to continue, and 'den Kontakt verlieren' (lose contact) to end it.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Umzug haben wir leider den Kontakt verloren.
After the move, we unfortunately lost contact.
Correct preposition
When you describe a connection to a person, you usually use the preposition 'zu' with the dative. The phrase 'in Kontakt bleiben/treten mit' + dative is also very common.
EXAMPLE
Er hat noch regelmäßigen Kontakt zu seiner ersten Lehrerin.
He still has regular contact with his first teacher.
Professional contacts
In a professional context, people often talk about 'Kontakte knüpfen' (making contacts/networking). This means building a professional network. Here, the word is often used in the plural.
EXAMPLE
Auf der Konferenz konnte sie viele nützliche Kontakte knüpfen.
At the conference, she was able to make many useful contacts.
Fixed expression
The combination 'einen Wackelkontakt haben' (to have a loose contact) is a fixed expression. It describes a technical problem in which an electrical connection is not stable.
EXAMPLE
Mein Ladekabel hat einen Wackelkontakt und funktioniert nicht immer.
My charging cable has a loose contact and doesn't always work.
Sentence structure and usage
For physical touch, the construction 'in Kontakt kommen mit' + dative is often used. In warnings, you often find the formula 'Kontakt vermeiden mit' + dative.
EXAMPLE
Achtung, das Reinigungsmittel darf nicht mit den Augen in Kontakt kommen.
Caution: the cleaning agent must not come into contact with the eyes.
Compare with
VerbindungBeziehungVerkehrAnschlussUmgangBerührungAnsprechpartnerBekanntschaftPinConnectionKörperkontakt
Kontakt vs Verbindung
connection / association
Both words can refer to a connection with a person or group. „Kontakt“ usually emphasizes actual exchange or access, while „Verbindung“ tends to highlight an existing social or professional relationship. „Kontakt“ fits when referring to a conversation or exchange, while „Verbindung“ is more suitable for an established network.
Kontakt
Sein Kontakt zu dem Verband half ihm bei der Suche nach einer Stelle.
His contact at the association helped him find a job.
Verbindung
Seine Verbindung zu dem Verband half ihm bei der Suche nach einer Stelle.
His connection to the association helped him find a job.
In real life
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