alrededor
“alrededor” means “around” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
around
Also: nearby
📝 In Action
No había nadie alrededor.
A2There was nobody around.
Mira alrededor, el paisaje es increíble.
A2Look around, the landscape is incredible.
¿Hay un banco por aquí alrededor?
B1Is there a bank around here?
around
📝 In Action
Los niños corrían alrededor del árbol.
A2The children were running around the tree.
Nos sentamos alrededor de la mesa para cenar.
A2We sat around the table for dinner.
La Tierra gira alrededor del Sol.
B1The Earth revolves around the Sun.
about / around
📝 In Action
La película dura alrededor de dos horas.
B1The movie lasts about two hours.
Llegaré alrededor de las cinco de la tarde.
B1I will arrive around five in the afternoon.
El proyecto costará alrededor de mil euros.
B1The project will cost around a thousand euros.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: alrededor
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'alrededor de' to mean 'approximately'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Old Spanish phrase 'al rededor de', which literally meant 'to the roundness of'. It's a combination of 'al' (to the) and 'rededor' (roundness), which itself comes from the Latin word 'rotundus', meaning 'round' or 'circular'. Over time, it merged into a single word to describe things in a circle or surrounding area.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the real difference between 'alrededor' and 'alrededor de'?
'alrededor' by itself means 'nearby' or 'in the general area' (e.g., 'No hay nadie alrededor' - There's nobody around). You must add 'de' when you want to specify *what* something is around (e.g., 'alrededor de la mesa' - around the table) or when you mean 'approximately' a number (e.g., 'alrededor de las tres' - around three o'clock).
Can I use 'alrededor de' to talk 'about' a topic, like in English?
No, this is a very common mistake for English speakers. To talk 'about' a topic, you should use 'de' or 'sobre'. For example, 'un libro sobre historia' (a book about history), not 'un libro alrededor de historia'.
How do I say 'around me'?
Great question! You use the prepositional pronoun 'mí'. The correct phrase is 'alrededor de mí'. For example, 'Toda mi familia estaba alrededor de mí' (My whole family was around me).