Zusammenhalten

Zusammenhalten is a German verb meaning to hold together or to stay united. It is used for both literal cohesion (objects that are glued or bolted) and metaphorical cohesion (a community, group, or nation). The noun form, Zusammenhalt, denotes cohesion or solidarity within a group and is common in political, sociological, and cultural discourse.

Etymology and grammar: The term is a compound of zusammen (together) and halten (to hold). It is a separable verb; in present tense one says die Gruppe hält zusammen, and in the perfect tense: die Gruppe hat zusammengehalten. The infinitive is zusammenhalten and the past participle is zusammengehalten. Imperatives include Haltet zusammen.

Usage and context: Zusammenhalten is frequently used to describe social resilience and collective action, for instance in crisis communication, policy debates, or family dynamics. It also appears in technical contexts to describe components that must stay connected, for example parts held together by fasteners or adhesives.

Related terms and note: Related concepts include Zusammenhalt (the noun form), Solidarität (solidarity), Gemeinschaft (community), and Zugehörigkeit (belonging). The notion of Zusammenhalt has cultural and political significance in German-speaking countries, where it is often invoked in discussions of national or regional identity and social policy.