autour

around, surrounding

adverb oh-TOOR Less Common

Usage Note

Autour functions as an adverb ('all around') and, with de, as a preposition (autour de la table = around the table). It should not be confused with environ, which means 'approximately'. The phrase autour de is one of the most common ways to express physical surrounding or an approximate number in informal speech.

Examples

"Les enfants courent autour du parc."

Natural Translation

The children run around the park.

Literal Translation

The children run around of-the park

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