If you're exchanging numbers, meeting someone new, or trying to stay in touch, you’ll want to know how to say contact in German. It’s a word that covers both personal connection and digital communication — and you’ll hear it all the time.
The word is Kontakt — pronounced “kohn-TAKT” (with a sharp, final K-T like in fact). It sounds very close to the English word, and you’ll often see it in both formal and informal settings.
Kontakt is masculine, so it’s der Kontakt. The plural is die Kontakte. For a clear overview of how German noun gender works — and how to use it confidently — my gender video lesson is a quick and powerful resource.
Kontakt is one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, and mastering it helps you with everything from networking to dating to customer service.
Examples in all four cases:
Nominative:
Der Kontakt ist abgebrochen.
The contact was lost.
Accusative:
Ich habe den Kontakt zu ihm gehalten.
I kept in contact with him.
Dative:
Sie hilft mir immer bei dem Kontakt mit Behörden.
She always helps me with contact with the authorities.
Genitive:
Die Pflege des Kontakts ist wichtig.
Maintaining the contact is important.
Real-World Tips for Learners
Kontakt can mean personal touch (sozialer Kontakt), professional networking (geschäftlicher Kontakt), or even technical connection (elektrischer Kontakt). It's incredibly flexible and is used in both everyday and abstract ways.
Common collocations and phrases include:
Kontakt aufnehmen – to get in touch / reach out
in Kontakt bleiben – to stay in contact
den Kontakt verlieren – to lose contact
enger Kontakt – close contact
Kontaktlinsen – contact lenses
Kontaktdaten – contact details
Kundenkontakt – customer contact
kein Kontakt erlaubt – no contact allowed (common during COVID)
You'll often hear Ich habe keinen Kontakt mehr zu ihr (I’m no longer in touch with her), or Wir sind noch in Kontakt (We’re still in touch). The verb kontaktieren also exists but is more formal — it’s often used in emails and business contexts.
Pro tip: in spoken German, Kontakt haben zu (to have contact with) is more natural than saying Kontakt mit jemandem, though both are grammatically fine.
Beginner dialogue using Kontakt:
A: Hast du noch Kontakt zu deiner alten Lehrerin?
B: Ja, wir schreiben manchmal E-Mails.
A: Are you still in contact with your old teacher?
B: Yes, we sometimes write emails.
Now it’s your turn. Think of your answer and say it aloud using Kontakt.
“Mit wem möchtest du wieder Kontakt haben — und warum?”
Who would you like to be in contact with again — and why?
Say your answer out loud in German and be sure to use Kontakt in the sentence.
German Word of the Day
Now you know how to say contact in German — and how der Kontakt helps you connect with others in language, work, and life.
Download the free illustrated PDF of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German to keep your vocabulary strong and useful.
Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Check out Kopie — and learn how to speak confidently in offices and forms.
Or revisit Kopf — and expand your vocabulary around thought, pain, and leadership.