milieu
Loading your saved state.
milieu
The social environment in which a person lives or grows up and which shapes their behavior and development.
Die Studie untersucht den Einfluss des familiären Milieus auf den Schulerfolg von Kindern.
The study examines the influence of the family milieu on children's success at school.
scene / milieu
A particular scene or group in society, often with a negative connotation, e.g. in connection with crime or prostitution.
Die Polizei führte eine Razzia im Drogenmilieu durch.
The police carried out a raid in the drug scene.
In its neutral meaning, 'Milieu' (milieu/social environment) is often combined with adjectives such as 'sozial' (social), 'familiär' (family), 'bürgerlich' (middle-class), or 'akademisch' (academic). It describes the environment that shapes a person.
Er stammt aus einem bürgerlichen Milieu und hat an einer Privatuniversität studiert.
He comes from a middle-class milieu and studied at a private university.
In the second meaning, 'Milieu' (scene/milieu) often has a negative connotation and is associated with crime. Typical combinations are 'Rotlichtmilieu' (red-light milieu), 'Drogenmilieu' (drug scene), or 'kriminelles Milieu' (criminal milieu).
Der Kommissar ermittelt seit Jahren im organisierten Verbrechensmilieu.
The detective has been investigating in the organized crime milieu for years.
You can recognize the negative meaning by words from the areas of crime, drugs, or prostitution. The neutral, sociological meaning is often made clear by adjectives such as 'sozial' (social) or 'kulturell' (cultural).
Die Polizei hat neue Erkenntnisse über das Drogenmilieu der Stadt.
The police have new information about the city's drug scene.
The neutral meaning of 'Milieu' as a social environment is frequently used in the specialized language of sociology, psychology, and education.
Die Studie analysiert, wie das städtische Milieu die Entwicklung von Jugendlichen beeinflusst.
The study analyzes how the urban milieu influences the development of young people.
surroundings / environment
Umgebung can generally refer to a person's social environment. Milieu places more emphasis on a socially and culturally shaped group or class that influences people's lives and behavior. Use Umgebung for a person's personal environment and Milieu when the shared social influences are the focus.
Er wuchs in einem Milieu auf, in dem Musik und Kunst eine große Rolle spielten.
He grew up in a milieu where music and art played a major role.
Ihre Umgebung unterstützte sie während der schwierigen Ausbildung.
The people around her supported her during the difficult training.
