Places and Landscapes
Nature English: Water and Rivers
Talk about rivers, floods, droughts and the water we use.
Rivers shape our towns and landscapes. In recent years, floods and dry summers have made water a big topic in the news. Learn the words to talk about both.
Key Words
Ten essential words with their German meaning and an example sentence.
| English | German | Example |
|---|---|---|
| river bank | Ufer, Flussufer | Kingfishers nest in holes in the river bank. |
| source | Quelle | The source of the Danube is in the Black Forest. |
| mouth | Mündung | The town lies at the mouth of the river. |
| tributary | Nebenfluss | The Neckar is a tributary of the Rhine. |
| floodplain | Aue, Überschwemmungsgebiet | Building on the floodplain is risky. |
| flood | Hochwasser, Überschwemmung | The flood damaged hundreds of houses. |
| to burst its banks | über die Ufer treten | After days of rain, the river burst its banks. |
| drought | Dürre | The drought left the fields brown and dry. |
| groundwater | Grundwasser | Groundwater levels are falling in some regions. |
| water shortage | Wassermangel | Some towns asked people to save water during the water shortage. |
Word Partners
Natural English depends on words that belong together. Learn these as complete phrases.
- water level
- heavy rainfall
- flood defences
- drinking water
- to flow into
- river restoration
- low water
- to save water
"The Rhine flows into the North Sea in the Netherlands."
Useful Phrases
Sentence patterns you can use straight away.
Describing a river
- The river flows through the old town.
- The water level is very low this summer.
- The river was straightened a long time ago.
- Now it's been given more space again.
Floods and droughts
- The river burst its banks.
- Whole streets were under water.
- Farmers are short of water.
- We've been asked not to water our gardens.
Talk About It
Answer these questions aloud, write a short paragraph, or discuss them with a partner.
- Which river runs through or near your town?
- Have you experienced a flood or a very dry summer?
- Should straightened rivers be returned to their natural course?
- How much water do you think you use in a day?
Test Yourself
Click a question to see the answer.
1. Where does a river begin?
At its source.
2. What do we call a smaller river that flows into a bigger one?
A tributary.
3. What is "über die Ufer treten" in English?
To burst its banks.
Explore More
Related topics on Talking English.
Talk about water and rivers.
Learn the words, use them in real sentences and share what you notice with others.
Every drop counts.