to look around
Loading your saved state.
to look around
To turn your head and upper body in order to look at your surroundings or at something behind you.
Sie schaute sich nervös um, weil sie ein Geräusch gehört hatte.
She looked around nervously because she had heard a noise.
to look around for
To search for something or gather information about available options, often without an immediate intention to buy or decide. This can refer to goods, an apartment, or a job.
Ich bin mit meinem Job unzufrieden und schaue mich nach etwas Neuem um.
I'm unhappy with my job and am looking around for something new.
to look around
To explore a place or space in order to get an overview of it or get to know it.
Nachdem wir im Hotel eingecheckt hatten, schauten wir uns erst einmal in der Umgebung um.
After we had checked in at the hotel, we first looked around the area.
'Umschauen' (to look around) is a separable verb. The prefix 'um-' goes to the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
Schau dich mal um, die Aussicht ist fantastisch!
Look around, the view is fantastic!
This verb is always reflexive, so it needs a reflexive pronoun (mich, dich, sich, uns, euch). You cannot just say 'umschauen'; you must always say 'sich umschauen' (to look around).
Ich schaue mich kurz im Laden um, vielleicht finde ich ein Geschenk.
I'll look around the shop briefly; maybe I'll find a gift.
When you are looking for something (a job, apartment, etc.), use the fixed expression 'sich nach etwas umschauen' (to look around for something). The preposition 'nach' is essential here.
Wir schauen uns nach einer größeren Wohnung um.
We're looking around for a bigger apartment.
When you are exploring a place, you often use the preposition 'in' followed by a place in the dative. The phrase is then 'sich in einem Ort umschauen' (to look around in a place).
Die Touristen schauten sich neugierig in der Altstadt um.
The tourists looked around the old town curiously.
to search / look for
„Suchen“ can express a clear idea of what you want to get. „Sich umschauen“ emphasizes first considering the available options without wanting to decide immediately. „Sich umschauen“ is therefore often suitable when the choice is open.
Ich schaue mich erst einmal nach verfügbaren Wohnungen in der Innenstadt um.
I’m going to look around for available apartments in the city center first.
Ich suche eine Wohnung mit drei Zimmern in der Innenstadt.
I’m looking for a three-bedroom apartment in the city center.
