German word

urban

Pronunciation

IPA/ʊʁˈbaːn/

Meaning

  • adjectiveurban

Example

In urbanen Gebieten gibt es viele Cafés.

There are many cafés in urban areas.

Illustration for urban (urban)

More examples

Urbanes Design prägt oft ganze Stadtviertel.

Urban design often shapes entire neighborhoods.

Core concept

The built-up, connected environment of metropolitan life rather than open countryside.

Common phrases

  • urbanes Design

    urban design

  • urbaner Wohnstil

    urban residential style

  • urbane Kultur

    urban culture

Similar words

städtisch: Connected with a city and its general character or conditions.
innerstädtisch: Situated in or associated with the city center.
großstädtisch: Characteristic of the lifestyle or atmosphere of a major city.

Definition in German

Zur Stadt gehörend oder für die Stadt typisch; im Gegensatz zu ländlich.

Word origin

The German adjective urban is a borrowing through the international learned vocabulary from Latin urbanus, formed from urbs, city.

Usage tips

  • Urban has a somewhat formal, planning-oriented tone, while städtisch or in der Stadt often sounds more ordinary in everyday German.

Other meanings

  • metropolitanadjective

Opposites

Related words

  • Urbanitäturbanitynoun
  • Urbanisierungurbanizationnoun

Word lists with this word