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
die Natur
nature
The innate essence, character, or fundamental quality of a person or thing.
EXAMPLE
Es liegt in der Natur der Sache, dass solche Projekte kompliziert sind.
It is in the nature of things that projects like this are complicated.
von Natur aus
by nature
Because of innate qualities; naturally.
EXAMPLE
Mein Bruder ist von Natur aus ein sehr ruhiger Mensch.
My brother is a very calm person by nature.
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 Umwelt
environment
Natur and Umwelt can both refer to the natural world around us. Natur tends to emphasize plants, animals, and relatively untouched landscapes, while Umwelt also includes air, water, soil, and human influences. Use Natur for the natural world and Umwelt especially when discussing protection and environmental impact.
Natur
Wir wollen am Wochenende in der Natur spazieren gehen.
We want to go for a walk in nature over the weekend.
Umwelt
Wir fahren mit dem Zug, um die Umwelt weniger zu belasten.
We are taking the train to put less strain on the environment.
In real life
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