It’s what’s around you—your neighborhood, your landscape, or just the general vibe of a place. In German, it’s die Umgebung. This is your German word of the day, and it’s the word Germans use to describe both physical surroundings and the area nearby.
The noun Umgebung means surroundings, vicinity, or environment, and it’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German. It comes up when you talk about where you live, where you’re traveling, or what’s nearby.
It’s a feminine noun, so we say die Umgebung (still wondering when to use die instead of der or das? Our video lesson makes gender finally make sense).
Pronunciation
Umgebung is pronounced [oom-GAY-boong].
Um like “oom,”
ge like “gay,”
bung rhymes with “boong,” soft and nasal
Stress is on the second syllable: um-GE-bung
It sounds broad and open—just like a spacious area.
Example sentences:
Die Umgebung ist sehr ruhig und grün.
The surroundings are very quiet and green.
Kennst du dich in der Umgebung aus?
Do you know your way around the area?
Nuance and usage tips
Umgebung refers to the physical or social environment around a person or place, often in the sense of nearby areas.
Common phrases:
in der Umgebung – in the area
die nähere Umgebung – the immediate surroundings
eine schöne Umgebung – a nice area / pleasant environment
Umgebung erkunden – explore the area
aus der Umgebung – from the local area
Note: It’s more spatial and concrete than Umwelt, which refers to the natural environment or ecological context.
How does this word come up in real conversations?
It’s used all the time when people talk about places, travel, real estate, or daily routines:
“Gibt es Restaurants in der Umgebung?” – Are there restaurants nearby?
“Die Wohnung liegt in einer schönen Umgebung.” – The apartment is in a nice area.
“Ich komme aus der Umgebung von München.” – I’m from the area around Munich.
You’ll also hear it in tourism, when recommending places to visit near a city or hotel.
Sample Dialogue (Beginner Level)
Sarah: Kennst du hier ein gutes Café?
Tom: Klar, es gibt viele in der Umgebung.
Sarah: Vielleicht eins mit Terrasse?
Tom: Da hinten, direkt am Park!
Sarah: Do you know a good café around here?
Tom: Sure, there are lots in the area.
Sarah: Maybe one with a terrace?
Tom: Over there, right by the park!
Grammatical case examples:
Nominative:
Die Umgebung ist wunderschön im Herbst.
The surroundings are beautiful in autumn.
Accusative:
Ich möchte die Umgebung besser kennenlernen.
I want to get to know the area better.
Dative:
In der Umgebung gibt es viele Seen.
There are many lakes in the area.
Genitive:
Die Ruhe der Umgebung ist entspannend.
The calm of the surroundings is relaxing.
Feminine case pattern: die, die, der, der
Word variations and language tidbits
Helpful compounds and phrases:
Wohnumgebung – residential surroundings
Stadtumgebung / Landumgebung – urban / rural area
Hotelumgebung – hotel surroundings
Umgebungskarte – local area map
aus der näheren Umgebung – from nearby
Cultural note: Germans often evaluate places (homes, schools, hotels) not just by the building itself, but by die Umgebung—how quiet, green, clean, or connected it is.
📘 Duden entry
🎥 Want to confidently talk about places, people, and everything around you? Our free video course teaches the top 1000 German nouns with examples, visuals, and smart grammar tips.
Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Do you know what Unfall means? Hopefully it’s something you only hear about on the radio.
And what about Universität? That one could be where your new surroundings begin.