French word

autour

Pronunciation

IPA/otuʁ/

Meaning

  • prepositionaround

Example

Il y a des enfants autour du parc.

There are children around the park.

Illustration for autour (around)

More examples

Les enfants jouent autour de la maison.

The children play around the house.

Core concept

A central point is surrounded by a nearby ring of space, people, things, or related ideas.

Common phrases

  • autour de

    around

  • autour du parc

    around the park

Similar words

près de: Very close to a person, place, or thing.
à propos de: About a topic or matter under discussion.
auprès de: Beside or in the presence of a person or organization.
aux alentours de: In the broad area surrounding a particular place.

Definition in French

Marque la relation spatiale ou thématique autour d'un point, indiquant ce qui entoure, concerne ou se situe à proximité, généralement formulé avec « autour de ».

Word origin

Autour formed from the French elements à and tour, linking the idea of a point with what lies around it.

Usage tips

  • Autour de is followed by a noun or pronoun, as in autour du parc, where de and le contract to du.

Other meanings

  • approximatelyadverb
  • aboutpreposition

Opposites

  • au centre dein the center ofpreposition
  • à l'intérieur deinsidepreposition

Word lists with this word