Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Around in Spanish: Alrededor De, Por, and Aproximadamente
Alrededor De · preposition · ahl-reh-deh-DOHR deh
The English word 'around' maps to multiple Spanish expressions depending on the meaning. Alrededor de indicates physical surrounding or encirclement. Por conveys movement through or within a general area. Aproximadamente (or cerca de with numbers) means 'approximately.' Choosing the right translation hinges on whether you are describing a spatial relationship, a general location, or an approximate quantity.
Alrededor de is pronounced ahl-reh-deh-DOHR deh, with the primary stress on the fourth syllable. Por is simply POHR, one of the most common words in Spanish. Aproximadamente is ah-prohk-see-mah-dah-MEHN-teh, with stress on the fifth syllable.
Los niños corrían alrededor del parque toda la tarde.
The children were running around the park all afternoon.
Around in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for around, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| alrededor de | around | ahl-reh-deh-DOHR deh | Default, widely understood |
| por | around | around a place, general area (e.g., por aquí = around here) | |
| aproximadamente | around | around / approximately a number or time | |
| cerca de | around | in the vicinity of, near |
How Native Speakers Use Alrededor De
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Physical surrounding
Construyeron una cerca alrededor de la casa.
They built a fence around the house.
Alrededor de indicates something encircling or surrounding a physical space.
General area
Hay una farmacia por aquí cerca.
There's a pharmacy around here.
Por is used to express being in the general vicinity of a place.
Approximate quantity
El vuelo dura aproximadamente tres horas.
The flight takes around three hours.
Aproximadamente translates 'around' when it means 'about' or 'roughly' with numbers.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Alrededor De
Using alrededor for approximation
Incorrect: Llega alrededor las cinco.
Correct: Llega alrededor de las cinco. / Llega aproximadamente a las cinco.
When using alrededor with a time or quantity, the preposition de is required (alrededor de). Alternatively, use aproximadamente for clarity.
Confusing por and alrededor de
Incorrect: Caminamos por de la fuente.
Correct: Caminamos alrededor de la fuente.
To express circling or surrounding a specific object, use alrededor de. Por indicates general movement in an area, not encirclement.
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Common Questions About Around in Spanish
- How do I choose between alrededor de and por?
- Use alrededor de when something physically surrounds or encircles another object. Use por when describing movement in or through a general area without implying encirclement (e.g., pasear por el barrio = stroll around the neighborhood).
- Can I use como instead of aproximadamente for 'around' a number?
- In colloquial Latin American speech, como functions as an informal way to say 'about' or 'around' before a number (e.g., Tengo como veinte libros — I have around twenty books). It is casual and best reserved for spoken contexts rather than writing.
- Is alrededor one word or two?
- Alrededor is always written as one word. It derives from al + rededor (an archaic form related to 'round'). Remember to follow it with de when connecting it to a noun: alrededor de la mesa.