Dicht

Dicht is a word that appears in German and Dutch with related meanings tied to closeness, density, or being sealed. In both languages, the term functions as an adjective and forms part of various common phrases and compounds.

In German, dicht primarily means dense or thick, as in a forest that is dicht or a wall that is dicht. It can also describe something that is sealed or tightly closed, as in Die Tür ist dicht or Die Vorrichtung muss dicht bleiben. The verb dicht machen means to seal something shut. The related noun Dichtung has several uses: it can denote poetry in literary contexts or a seal or gasket in mechanical contexts. Derived phrases such as dicht gedrängt (closely packed) and dicht halten (to keep closed or to hold tightly) are common in everyday language.

In Dutch, dicht likewise covers notions of closure and density. It describes something that is closed or shut, for example De deur is dicht. It also describes density or fullness, as in a densely built area (dichtbebouwd) or densely populated regions (dichtbevolkt). The adverbial form dichtbij means nearby or in close proximity. Dutch uses dicht in various composite terms to express proximity or compactness, mirroring its German cognate functions.

Etymology and related terms: dicht shares roots with other West Germanic languages and is connected to the German Dichtung, a noun that historically covers poetry as well as sealing. While Dutch uses dicht primarily for closure and density, German retains a broader range of uses across daily language and technical terminology.