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umherreisen
/ʔʊmˈheːɐ̯ˌʁaɪ̯sn̩/
travel around
Er möchte in seinem Leben noch viel umherreisen.
He wants to travel around a lot in his life.
neutral
to travel from place to place, often without a fixed destination
Sie reist seit Jahren umher, um neue Kulturen kennenzulernen.
She has been traveling around for years to get to know new cultures.
Nach dem Studium wollen wir erstmal umherreisen, bevor wir uns fest niederlassen.
After graduating, we first want to travel around before settling down.
Often implies a sense of exploration or lack of a permanent plan. Can be used literally or figuratively (e.g., 'umherreisen' in one's mind).
Collocations
weit umherreisento travel far and wideviel umherreisento travel a lotumherreisen und lernento travel around and learn
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Distinguish from 'umziehen'
'umherreisen' emphasizes traveling or moving between places, while 'umziehen' means to move (e.g., to a new home). 'Umherreisen' does not imply a permanent change of residence.
Gold Rule
Use with travel-related contexts
While 'umherreisen' can be used figuratively, it is most natural in literal travel contexts (e.g., backpacking, road trips). Avoid using it for sedentary activities.
Word Origin
Compound of 'umher' (around, about) + 'reisen' (to travel). 'Umher' derives from Middle High German 'umbeher' (around), while 'reisen' comes from Old High German 'reisa' (journey).
Usage Notes
Common in both spoken and written German, especially in travel contexts. Can be used reflexively ('sich umherreisen') to emphasize the act of traveling itself.
Word Breakdown
umher
around, about
prefixreisen
to travel
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