A small cozy cottage in the center of a landscape with rolling green hills, a winding stream, and colorful trees.

alrededores

al-reh-deh-DOH-rehs

surroundings?the area or environment around a specific place

Also:outskirts?the outer parts of a town or city,environs?the area surrounding a place, often used in a slightly more formal way

📝 In Action

Me gusta caminar por los alrededores del lago.

I like to walk around the surroundings of the lake.

Vivimos en los alrededores de Madrid.

We live on the outskirts of Madrid.

Hay muchos castillos antiguos en los alrededores.

There are many old castles in the surrounding area.

Word Connections

Synonyms

afueras (outskirts)
cercanías (vicinity/nearby areas)
contornos (edges/boundaries)

Antonyms

centro (center)
interior (inside/interior)

Common Collocations

en los alrededores de – in the surrounding area of
por los alrededores – around the neighborhood/vicinity

💡 Grammar Points

Always Plural

Even though 'surroundings' can sometimes feel like a single area, in Spanish we almost always use this word in its plural form: 'los alrededores'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Alrededor vs. Alrededores

Mistake: "Using 'el alrededor' to mean 'the area around'."

Correction: Use 'los alrededores' for the noun (the area). Use 'alrededor' without the 'es' when you want to say 'around' as a direction, like 'mirar alrededor' (to look around).

⭐ Usage Tips

Talking about Cities

When talking about where you live, 'alrededores' is a great, neutral way to say you live near a city but not right in the middle of it.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: alrededores

Question 1 of 1

If you want to say you live 'near' the city but not in the center, which is most natural?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

alrededor(around) - adverb

rodear(to surround) - verb

redondo(round) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'alrededores' formal?

It is quite neutral. You can use it in a casual conversation with friends or in a formal guidebook about a city.

Can I use it for people?

No, 'alrededores' usually refers to physical places. To talk about people around you, you would say 'la gente que me rodea' (the people who surround me).