das  Umland

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈʊmlant/

🗺️ What exactly is "das Umland"?

Das Umland (neuter noun) refers to the area surrounding a city or a larger town. It's the periphery or catchment area, often more rural in character than the core city itself, but closely linked to it economically and socially. For example, one might speak of the Umland von Berlin (surroundings of Berlin) or the Umland von München (surroundings of Munich).

There is only this one article (das) for this word. ⚠️ Confusion with similar words like Umgebung (surroundings, environment) is possible, but Umland refers more specifically to the geographical and often administrative area around a central settlement.

🧐 Grammar: Declining "das Umland"

Das Umland is a neuter noun. It is generally used only in the singular. A plural form (die Umländer) is grammatically possible but very rare and uncommon in general usage. When referring to the surroundings of multiple cities, it's usually phrased differently.

Declension

Example Sentences 📝

1. Viele Pendler wohnen im Umland und arbeiten in der Stadt.
   Many commuters live in the surrounding area and work in the city.
2. Das Umland von Frankfurt ist für seine Streuobstwiesen bekannt.
   The hinterland of Frankfurt is known for its traditional orchards.
3. Die Immobilienpreise im Umland sind oft günstiger als im Zentrum.
   Property prices in the surroundings are often lower than in the center.
4. Die Entwicklung des Umland(e)s wird stark von der Kernstadt beeinflusst.
   The development of the surrounding region is strongly influenced by the core city.

🧭 When to use "das Umland"?

The term das Umland is mainly used in geographical, urban planning, and socio-economic contexts. It describes the relationship between a core city and its surrounding area.

• Geography & Urban Planning: Describing the region around a city (e.g., das dicht besiedelte Umland des Ruhrgebiets - the densely populated surroundings of the Ruhr area).
• Economy: Analyzing commuter flows, location decisions for companies (e.g., Firmen siedeln sich im kostengünstigeren Umland an - Companies settle in the more cost-effective surrounding area).
• Social Issues: Describing lifestyles or demographic trends (e.g., die Abwanderung junger Familien ins Umland - the migration of young families to the surrounding area).
• Tourism & Leisure: Local recreation areas in the surroundings (e.g., Ausflüge ins grüne Umland - trips into the green surroundings).

Distinction from "Umgebung": While Umgebung generally describes the vicinity of something (including the immediate surroundings of a house), Umland specifically focuses on the catchment area of a city or center.

🧠 Mnemonics for "das Umland"

For the article 'das': Think of das Land (the land, the country). The Umland is the land around (um) something. Since Land is neuter ('das Land'), Umland is also neuter ('das Umland').

For the meaning: Imagine your city or town. Draw a circle um (around) it on a map. Everything within that circle, but outside the city proper, is das Umland – the land around it.

🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms

💡 Note that Umland usually covers a larger geographical area than just the direct Vororte (suburbs) or the immediate Umgebung (surroundings).

😂 A Little Joke

Warum ziehen Städter gerne ins Umland?
Why do city dwellers like moving to the Umland?

Weil sie dort endlich mal Land sehen!
Because there they finally get to see some 'Land' (countryside)!

📜 Poem about the Umland

Die Stadt pulsiert, laut, grell und bunt,
The city pulses, loud, bright and colourful, Doch gleich dahinter tut sich kund
But just beyond, it becomes known Das Umland weit, mit Feld und Wald,
The vast surroundings, with field and forest, Wo Ruhe oft noch Einkehr halt'.
Where peace often still finds a home. Von hier man pendelt, Tag für Tag,
From here one commutes, day after day, Ins Zentrum, das man doch auch mag.
To the center, which one also likes. Ein Kompromiss, nicht Stadt, nicht Land allein,
A compromise, not city, not countryside alone, So soll das Leben im Umland sein.
Such should life in the surroundings be.

❓ Riddle Time

Ich liege um die große Stadt,
I lie around the big city, bin weder Dorf noch Zentrum platt.
am neither village nor simply the center. Von mir fährt man zur Arbeit rein,
From me, people travel in to work, wer kann ich wohl nur sein?
who can I possibly be?

Solution: das Umland

🧩 Further Details

Word Composition:

Das Umland is a compound noun formed from:

• um: Preposition/adverb indicating an encircling movement or position ('around').
• Land: Noun (das Land) meaning 'land', 'countryside', often contrasted with the city.

Together, the meaning is literally "the land around (something, e.g., a city)".