sich umsehen
to look around
To turn one's head or body in order to look at the surroundings or at something behind one.
EXAMPLE
Er hörte ein Geräusch und sah sich erschrocken um.
He heard a noise and looked around in alarm.
umsehen
to look around
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Meanings
sich umsehen
to look around
To look around in a place (e.g., in a shop or a city) in order to get an impression, often without a specific intention to buy or do something.
EXAMPLE
Ich möchte nichts kaufen, ich sehe mich nur ein bisschen um.
I don't want to buy anything; I'm just looking around a bit.
sich umsehen nach
to look around for
To actively search for something specific, for example a new apartment, a job, or an opportunity.
EXAMPLE
Wir müssen uns bald nach einer größeren Wohnung umsehen.
We need to start looking around for a bigger apartment soon.
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Umsehen' (to look around) is a separable verb. In a main clause, the prefix 'um' goes at the end. In a subordinate clause or in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Sie sieht sich in der neuen Stadt um.
She looks around in the new city.
Always reflexive
The verb 'umsehen' (to look around) is always used reflexively, meaning with a reflexive pronoun (mich, dich, sich, uns, euch, sich). The pronoun agrees with the subject of the sentence.
EXAMPLE
Ich sehe mich nach einem neuen Job um.
I'm looking around for a new job.
Typical situation: In a shop
The sentence 'Ich sehe mich nur um' (I'm just looking around) is a very common and polite answer to sales staff in a shop when you only want to look and do not want to buy anything specific.
EXAMPLE
Verkäufer: Kann ich Ihnen helfen? Kunde: Nein danke, ich sehe mich nur um.
Salesperson: Can I help you? Customer: No thanks, I'm just looking around.
Searching with 'nach'
When 'sich umsehen' (to look around for) has the meaning of 'to actively search,' it is always used with the preposition 'nach' and the dative. The structure is: sich nach etwas (dative) umsehen.
EXAMPLE
Er sieht sich nach einer günstigeren Versicherung um.
He's looking around for cheaper insurance.
Compare with
umsehen vs umschauen
to look around
Sich umsehen and sich umschauen can both refer to looking for things that are on offer. Sich nach etwas umsehen tends to emphasize actively searching for a specific goal, while sich umschauen can also mean gathering information without an immediate decision. Use umsehen for a specific need and umschauen when comparing options openly.
umsehen
Ich sehe mich nach einer neuen Wohnung um, weil ich bald umziehen muss.
I’m looking for a new apartment because I have to move soon.
umschauen
Ich schaue mich nach Wohnungen um, ohne heute schon eine Entscheidung treffen zu wollen.
I’m looking around for apartments without wanting to make a decision today.
In real life
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