German word

umgeben

Pronunciation

IPA/ʊmˈgeːbən/

Meaning

  • verbsurround

Example

Die Stadt ist von Bergen umgeben.

The city is surrounded by mountains.

Illustration for umgeben (surround)

More examples

Das alte Fotoalbum war von Erinnerungen umgeben.

The old photo album was surrounded by memories.

Core concept

Something lies at the center while its surroundings close in around it, physically or through feelings and conditions.

Common phrases

  • von hohen Mauern umgeben sein

    be surrounded by high walls

  • ein Grundstück mit einem Zaun umgeben

    surround a plot of land with a fence

  • von Erinnerungen umgeben sein

    be surrounded by memories

Similar words

umschließen: To close around something and shut it in from the outside.
umzingeln: To surround someone or something so that movement or escape is difficult.
umfassen: To contain something as part of a larger area, range, or whole.
einhüllen: To wrap something completely in cloth, mist, or another covering.

Definition in German

etwas an allen Seiten umschließen, sodass es eingeschlossen ist

Word origin

Umgeben is an inherited German formation from Middle High German umbegeben, built from um- 'around' and geben 'give'.

Usage tips

  • With a direct object, umgeben describes what surrounds something, while passive wording commonly uses von plus dative: Die Stadt ist von Bergen umgeben.

Other meanings

  • envelopverb

Opposites

  • entblößenexposeverb

Related words

  • Umgebungsurroundingsnoun
  • umgebendsurroundingadjective

Word lists with this word