noun
environment, surroundings
B1
Umwelt (die) means 'environment' or 'surroundings'. Usually a mass noun referring to natural or social environment, singular 'die Umwelt'. Plural 'Umwelten' exists for distinct environments. Declension: die Umwelt (nom.), der Umwelt (dat.). Common in ecology and everyday contexts. Genitive is der Umwelt; used in phrases like 'die Umwelt schützen'.
Examples
Wir müssen die Umwelt schützen.
We have to protect the environment.
Die Pflanzen in meiner Umgebung sind Teil der Umwelt.
The plants around me are part of the surroundings.
Wir müssen die Umwelt schützen.
We must protect the environment.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture a wide green field surrounding a town — that is the 'Umwelt'.
sounds like 'oom-velt' — imagine a velvet (velt) green environment
die → think of a woman named 'Ulla' caring for the environment: 'die Umwelt'
Notes
Often used as a mass noun (usually singular) referring to the natural and built surroundings. Collocates: Umwelt schützen, Umweltschutz, Umweltverschmutzung.