Places and Landscapes
Nature English: Mountains and Landscapes
Describe the views, trails and peaks you love.
Hiking in the Alps, walking in the hills or simply admiring a view – landscapes give us lots to talk about. Learn the words to describe them and to plan a hike in English.
Key Words
Ten essential words with their German meaning and an example sentence.
| English | German | Example |
|---|---|---|
| summit | Gipfel | We reached the summit just after sunrise. |
| peak | Spitze, Gipfel | Snow still covered the highest peaks in June. |
| valley | Tal | A river runs through the valley. |
| ridge | Grat, Kamm | The path follows the ridge for two kilometres. |
| slope | Hang | The slope was steep and slippery. |
| cliff | Klippe, Felswand | Seabirds nest on the cliffs. |
| glacier | Gletscher | Many Alpine glaciers are shrinking fast. |
| trail | Wanderweg | The trail is well marked. |
| mountain hut | Berghütte | We stopped at a mountain hut for lunch. |
| national park | Nationalpark | The Harz is one of Germany's national parks. |
Word Partners
Natural English depends on words that belong together. Learn these as complete phrases.
- breathtaking view
- steep slope
- to reach the summit
- rolling hills
- snow-capped mountains
- rugged landscape
- to go hiking
- as far as the eye can see
"Rolling hills stretched as far as the eye could see."
Useful Phrases
Sentence patterns you can use straight away.
Describing a landscape
- The view from the top was breathtaking.
- The path zigzags up the steep slope.
- The valley is dotted with small villages.
- In the distance, you can see snow-capped peaks.
On a hike
- How long does the hike take?
- Is the trail well marked?
- Let's take a break here.
- The weather is changing – we should turn back.
Talk About It
Answer these questions aloud, write a short paragraph, or discuss them with a partner.
- Mountains or the sea – which do you prefer, and why?
- Describe the most beautiful landscape you have ever seen.
- Are some mountain areas getting too crowded with tourists?
- How have you seen landscapes change over the years?
Test Yourself
Click a question to see the answer.
1. What is the highest point of a mountain called?
The summit.
2. What is "Wanderweg" in English?
A trail, or footpath.
3. What do we call a slow-moving river of ice?
A glacier.
Explore More
Related topics on Talking English.
Talk about mountains and landscapes.
Learn the words, use them in real sentences and share what you notice with others.
Climb. Look. Describe.