alrededor
/al-reh-deh-DOR/
around
As an adverb, alrededor means 'around' or 'nearby' in the general surrounding area.
📝 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?
💡 Grammar Points
Used Alone to Mean 'Nearby'
When you see 'alrededor' by itself, without 'de' after it, it simply means 'in the surrounding area' or 'nearby'. It answers the question 'where?' in a general sense.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting 'de' for Specific Objects
Mistake: "Hay una valla alrededor la casa."
Correction: Hay una valla alrededor de la casa. To say something is around a *specific* object (like 'the house'), you must add 'de'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing a General Scene
Use 'alrededor' on its own at the end of a sentence to give a sense of the general surroundings. For example: 'La ciudad estaba en silencio, y no se oía nada alrededor.'
The phrase alrededor de is used to show something is physically circling or surrounding a specific object.
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
'alrededor de' + a Thing
To talk about being physically 'around' a specific person, place, or thing, you always use the full phrase 'alrededor de'. Remember that 'de' + 'el' automatically combines to become 'del'.
Talking About People
You can also use this for people! To say 'around me' or 'around you', use 'alrededor de mí' and 'alrededor de ti'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Painting a Picture
This phrase is your best tool for describing the layout of a scene. Think of it as drawing a circle around something with your words: 'una bufanda alrededor del cuello' (a scarf around the neck).
When followed by a quantity or time, alrededor de means 'approximately' or 'about'.
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Approximately' Signal
When 'alrededor de' is followed by a number, time, or any kind of measurement, its meaning shifts from physical location to approximation. It becomes the Spanish way of saying 'about' or 'roughly'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Not for Topics
Mistake: "Hablamos alrededor de la economía."
Correction: Hablamos de la economía. or Hablamos sobre la economía. To talk 'about' a topic or subject, use 'de' or 'sobre', not 'alrededor de'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Sound More Natural
Using 'alrededor de' for estimates sounds more natural and conversational than always using the more formal 'aproximadamente'. It's perfect for everyday planning and descriptions.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: alrededor
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'alrededor de' to mean 'approximately'?
📚 More Resources
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).