Inklingo

How to Say "outskirts" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “outskirts” is “afueras” — use 'afueras' to refer to the border areas of a city, especially when emphasizing distance from the center or a more rural/residential feel.

English → Spanish

afueras

a-FWEH-rahsaˈfweɾas

nounB1general
Use 'afueras' to refer to the border areas of a city, especially when emphasizing distance from the center or a more rural/residential feel.
A simple colorful storybook illustration showing the transition zone between a dense city and open countryside. On one side are tall, colorful buildings, and on the other are rolling green hills and a few isolated small houses.

Examples

Mi casa está en las afueras, lejos del ruido del centro.

My house is on the outskirts, far from the city center noise.

Tuvimos que manejar a las afueras para encontrar un estacionamiento gratuito.

We had to drive to the suburbs to find free parking.

Las afueras de Madrid son muy verdes y tranquilas.

The outskirts of Madrid are very green and quiet.

Always Plural

Even if you are talking about just one city's outskirts, 'afueras' is always used in the plural form (las afueras).

Using the Singular

Mistake: “La afuera de la ciudad.”

Correction: Las afueras de la ciudad. Remember that this word is fixed in the plural form.

alrededores

al-reh-deh-DOH-rehsalreðeˈðoɾes

nounB1general
Choose 'alrededores' when referring to the general surrounding areas, not just the city's edge, and often used for natural settings or broader districts.
A small cozy cottage in the center of a landscape with rolling green hills, a winding stream, and colorful trees.

Examples

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.

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'.

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).

contorno

kon-TOR-nokonˈtoɾno

nounB1general
Use 'contorno' to describe the outer edges or boundary of a city, similar to 'afueras' but can sometimes imply a more formal or geographical boundary.
A small cozy house in the center with green trees and hills encircling it.

Examples

Vive en los contornos de Madrid.

He lives in the outskirts of Madrid.

Exploramos los bellos contornos del lago.

We explored the beautiful surroundings of the lake.

La policía buscó por todos los contornos de la escena.

The police searched all the surrounding areas of the scene.

Plural for Places

When talking about 'surroundings', it is very common to use the plural form 'los contornos'.

suburbio

soo-BOOR-byohsuˈβuɾβjo

nounB1general
Employ 'suburbio' when specifically referring to the fringes of a city that are often associated with residential areas, sometimes with a connotation of being less affluent.
A cluster of simple, weathered small houses packed closely together in a humble urban neighborhood.

Examples

Muchos trabajadores humildes viven en el suburbio.

Many humble workers live in the poor outskirts.

El gobierno quiere mejorar las calles de los suburbios.

The government wants to improve the streets in the slums.

Crecí en un suburbio alejado del ruido del centro.

I grew up in a peripheral neighborhood away from the city center noise.

False Friend Alert!

In English, 'suburb' usually means a nice, middle-class area. In Spanish, 'suburbio' often implies a very poor area or a slum. Be careful not to use it as a direct translation for your nice neighborhood!

Masculine Noun Patterns

This word ends in -o, making it masculine. You will always use 'el' or 'un' with it: 'el suburbio'.

Using it for 'nice' areas

Mistake: “Vivo en un suburbio de lujo.”

Correction: Vivo en una zona residencial de las afueras.

Afueras vs. Alrededores

Learners often confuse 'afueras' and 'alrededores'. 'Afueras' specifically means the outer parts of a city, whereas 'alrededores' is broader and can refer to any surrounding area, including natural landscapes.

Related Translations

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