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"Cerca de" is a phrase which is often translated as "close to", and "alrededor de" is a phrase which is often translated as "about". Learn more about the difference between "cerca de" and "alrededor de" below.
cerca de(
sehr
-
kah
deh
)A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
alrededor de(
ahl
-
rreh
-
deh
-
dohr
deh
)A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
a. around
La Tierra da una vuelta alrededor del sol cada 365 días.The Earth completes its orbit around the sun every 365 days.
3. (skirting)
a. along
El barco navegaba alrededor de la costa de Italia cuando le sorprendió la tormenta.The ship was sailing along the Italian coast when it was caught in a storm.