How do you talk about the environment in German?

There are three main words for “environment” in the German language. Though the terms often overlap, the word Umwelt (f.) is primarily used to describe nature and ecosystems (that may have an impact on our living conditions), Umfeld (n.) is mainly for the social or psychological environment that one is influenced by, and Umgebung (f.) means one’s immediate physical surroundings.

Whereas Umwelt and Umfeld are both used to describe surroundings that have a direct effect on humanity (or a specific group or person), the word Umgebung is not necessarily linked to us in such a way and can refer to nearby objects, structures and streets as well as nature (i.e. one’s “immediate environment”).

Examples