01
die Natur
nature
The world of plants, animals, and landscapes that was not created by humans.
example
Wir verbringen unsere Wochenenden gerne draußen in der Natur.
We like spending our weekends outside in nature.
die Natur
nature
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word family
The noun 'die Natur' (nature) is the base word for the adjective and adverb 'natürlich' (natural/naturally). Something is 'natürlich' (natural) if it comes from nature, is normal, or is self-evident.
EXAMPLE
Dieser Saft enthält nur natürliche Zutaten.
This juice contains only natural ingredients.
Fixed expression
The expression 'von Natur aus' (by nature) is a fixed expression. It means 'innate' or 'fundamentally' and describes an essential quality of a person or thing.
EXAMPLE
Katzen sind von Natur aus neugierige Tiere.
Cats are curious animals by nature.
Typical collocations
When 'Natur' (nature) means the natural environment, typical phrases are 'in der Natur sein' (to be in nature), 'die Natur genießen' (to enjoy nature), or 'die Natur schützen' (to protect nature).
EXAMPLE
Am Wochenende fahren wir oft aufs Land, um in der Natur zu sein.
On weekends, we often go to the countryside to be in nature.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'in der Natur der Sache liegen' (to be in the nature of things) means that something is a logical or inevitable consequence of the circumstances. It is often used to describe a quality as inherent.
EXAMPLE
Es liegt in der Natur der Sache, dass man eine neue Sprache nicht über Nacht lernt.
It is in the nature of things that you don't learn a new language overnight.
Compare with
Natur vs Kultur
culture
'die Kultur' and 'die Natur' are often used as opposites. 'Natur' then means plants, animals, and landscapes: in other words, what is not made by humans. 'Kultur' means what people create in a society: ways of life, values, art, music, or theater. The words can be confused because both describe large areas of life. The important thing is the point of view: 'Natur' is the environment that was not created by humans, while 'Kultur' is shaped by humans. Careful: 'Natur' can also mean a person's character, for example 'von Natur aus ruhig' (calm by nature). In that case, it is not a direct opposite of 'Kultur'.
Natur
Am Sonntag wanderten wir durch die Natur und hörten nur die Vögel.
On Sunday, we hiked through nature and heard only the birds.
Kultur
Wegen der Prüfung liest Ali viel über die Kultur anderer Länder.
Because of the exam, Ali is reading a lot about the culture of other countries.
In real life
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