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German · Vocabulary · A1 to B2

German nature vocabulary: im Wald, am See, and auf dem Berg

Wo seid ihr? · tap a layer of the landscape im Wald VALT · forest · plural: die Wälder
Wirwewandernhikeim Wald.in-the forest
veer VAN-dern im VALT · “We’re hiking in the forest.”Why: Im = in dem: you are inside the forest.

Short answer: each place in nature takes its own preposition. You are im Wald (in the forest), am See (at the lake), auf dem Berg (on the mountain) and auf dem Land (in the countryside), all with the dative. Going there switches to the accusative or to an / in + den: Wir fahren an den See. Germans love wandern (hiking), and the environment, die Umwelt, is a big everyday topic.

Being there or going there

Wo bist du? Wohin fährst du?

With the two-way prepositions in, an and auf, the case tells you whether you are already there (dative, wo?) or going there (accusative, wohin?). Mountains are the exception: you go in die Berge (plural) for a holiday.

PlaceWo? · dativeWohin? · accusative
der Waldforestim Waldin den Wald
der Seelakeam Seean den See
das Meerseaam Meerans Meer
der Bergmountainauf dem Bergauf den Berg
die Bergethe mountains (holiday)in den Bergenin die Berge
das Landthe countrysideauf dem Landaufs Land
Animals of the German forest

Der Fuchs, das Reh, das Eichhörnchen

Animal genders are unpredictable, so learn each with its article. Words ending in -chen are always neuter, even when the animal is not small: das Eichhörnchen (squirrel).

Outdoor life

Wandern, Pilze sammeln, der Schrebergarten

Spending time outside is a national habit. These are the activities and words you will hear on a German weekend.

wandernWalking in the hills or forest, often on marked trails.
Am Sonntagon Sundaygehengowirwewandern.hiking
am ZON-taak GAY-en veer VAN-dern · “On Sunday we’re going hiking.”
Pilze sammelnPicking wild mushrooms in autumn, with an expert check.
Im Herbstin autumnsammelngatherwirwePilze.mushrooms
im HERPST ZA-meln veer PIL-tse · “In autumn we pick mushrooms.”
der SchrebergartenA small rented garden plot in a city allotment colony.
Opagrandpaistisimin-theSchrebergarten.allotment
OH-pa ist im SHRAY-ber-gar-ten · “Grandpa is at the allotment.”
zeltenCamping in a tent, often at a Campingplatz by a lake.
Wirwezeltencampam See.at-the lake
veer TSEL-ten am ZAY · “We’re camping by the lake.”
Fahrrad fahrenCycling on long riverside routes like the Elberadweg.
Wirwefahrenrideam Rheinalong-the RhineFahrrad.bike
veer FAA-ren am RAIN FAAR-raat · “We cycle along the Rhine.”
The environment

Umwelt, Klimaschutz, Energiewende

Environment vocabulary is full of long compound nouns. Break them into parts: Klima + Schutz = climate protection. The last part gives the gender.

Nature through the year

Die Blätter fallen, die Vögel ziehen

One glossed sentence per season, each with a typical nature verb. All seasons are masculine: im Frühling, im Herbst.

Frühling
Im Frühlingin-the springblühenbloomdie Bäume.the trees
im FRÜ-ling BLÜ-en dee BOI-me · “In spring the trees blossom.”
Sommer
Im Sommerin-the summerbadenbathewirweim See.in-the lake
im ZO-mer BAA-den veer im ZAY · “In summer we swim in the lake.”
Herbst
Im Herbstin-the autumnfallenfalldie Blätter.the leaves
im HERPST FA-len dee BLE-ter · “In autumn the leaves fall.”
Winter
Im Winterin-the winterfriertfreezesder Fluss.the river
im VIN-ter FREERT dair FLUS · “In winter the river freezes.”
Waldeinsamkeit and Waldbaden

Der Wald and German feeling for nature

The forest holds a special place in German culture, from fairy tales to Romantic poetry. These words have no single English equivalent.

Keep going

Related guides

Prepositions →All two-way prepositions.im, am, auf demWeather →What the weather does outside.es regnetHome →Sorting rubbish at home.den Müll trennenTravel →Getting to the sea and the mountains.ans Meer