How to Say “Around” in German

Are you interested in learning how to say “around” in German? Whether you want to navigate your way through a German-speaking country or simply expand your vocabulary, knowing how to express the concept of “around” is essential.

Formal Ways to Say “Around”

Let’s begin by exploring formal ways to say “around” in German. In formal contexts such as business meetings, official events, or when speaking to someone you don’t know very well, it is important to use proper etiquette. Here are a few options:

• Um: This is the most common and versatile word for “around” in formal German. For example, you can say “Die Veranstaltung findet um 19 Uhr statt” (The event takes place around 7 p.m.).
• Rund um: This phrase can be used to express “around” in a more specific sense. For instance, you might say “Die Stadt hat viele Parks rund um das Zentrum” (The city has many parks around the center).
• In der Nähe von: Although not exactly synonymous with “around,” this phrase means “near” or “close to” and can be used to indicate the general vicinity. For instance, you can say “Ich wohne in der Nähe von München” (I live around Munich).

Informal Ways to Say “Around”

When conversing with friends, family, or informal acquaintances, you can opt for a more relaxed and colloquial way of saying “around.” Here are a few informal options to consider:

• Etwa: This is a common and versatile word used in informal speech. For example, you might say “Wir treffen uns etwa um 8 Uhr” (We are meeting around 8 o’clock).
• So circa: This phrase is another informal way of saying “around.” For instance, you could say “Er ist so circa 30 Jahre alt” (He is around 30 years old).
• In der Gegend von: Similar to “in der Nähe von,” this phrase means “in the area of” or “around.” It can be used to indicate a general location or neighborhood. An example sentence would be “Ich wohne in der Gegend von Berlin” (I live around Berlin).

Regional Variations

While German is primarily a standardized language, there are some regional variations when it comes to expressing “around.” These variations are more prominent in dialects, local slang, or specific regions. Here are a couple of examples:

In southern Germany and Austria, you may hear the word “umadum” or “uma.” This is a dialectal expression that corresponds to “around” in standard German.

Although these regional variations exist, it’s important to note that the standard German options we discussed earlier are universally understood in any German-speaking region.

Tips and Examples

Now that you know the formal, informal, and regional variations of how to say “around” in German, here are some tips and examples to help solidify your understanding:

• Tips:
  • Practice using these phrases in various sentences to become more confident in their usage.
  • Listen to native German speakers or watch German movies to familiarize yourself with their pronunciation and intonation.
  • Don’t be afraid to make mistakes! Learning a language takes time and effort, and making errors is an important part of the learning process.
  • Regularly review and reinforce your knowledge by incorporating these phrases into your daily conversations or writing exercises.
• Examples:
  • Wir gehen um zehn Uhr herum spazieren. (We are going for a walk around ten o’clock.)
  • Ich suche ein Hotel rund um den Hauptbahnhof. (I’m looking for a hotel around the main train station.)
  • Kommst du so circa um halb sieben? (Are you coming around half past six?)
  • Das Restaurant befindet sich in der Nähe von meinem Büro. (The restaurant is located close to my office.)

By incorporating these tips and examples into your language learning journey, you’ll soon feel comfortable using various phrases to express the concept of “around” in German.