Spanish Conversation · Level 40
75 words
Spanish word
rodear
Pronunciation
IPA/roðeˈaɾ/
Meaning
- verbsurround
Example
Los perros rodean la casa.
The dogs surround the house.
More examples
Los niños rodean la mesa durante la fiesta.
The children surround the table during the party.
Core concept
A ring of people or objects forming a perimeter around a central thing.
Common phrases
rodear la mesa
surround the table
Similar words
rodearse: Becomes surrounded by people or things, often with de to indicate what surrounds the subject.
envolver: Covers something completely by wrapping material or layers around it, enclosing its interior.
bordear: Follows or moves along the edge or border of something, skirting its perimeter.
cercar: Encloses an area by building or placing barriers around it, closing it off.
Definition in Spanish
Formar un cerco o perímetro alrededor de algo o alguien, ya sea colocando elementos alrededor o dando la vuelta alrededor de ello.
Word origin
It derives from Latin rotare 'to turn' via Spanish rodeo and rodar, with the verb-forming suffix -ear giving the sense of making a turning movement around or encircling.
Usage tips
- Rodear is typically transitive and takes the personal a with human objects, and the reflexive form rodearse de indicates the subject surrounds itself.
Other meanings
- go aroundverb
- besiegeverb
Opposites
- dispersardisperseverb
Related words
- rodeadosurroundedadjective