As with any other language, Spanish can be tricky sometimes. Do you know how to use the word entorno? What about the expression en torno? Which one would you use in the following sentence?:

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Fuengirola es un importante punto turístico. Su economía gira ________ a este sector.

Fuengirola is an important touristic spot. Its economy revolves around this sector.

Captions 12-13, Fuengirola - Mercado

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What about this sentence:

Encontró en su _________ un atractivo natural para los amantes del ecoturismo.

Found in its environment a natural beauty for the lovers of ecotourism.

Caption 94, Tecnópolis - El Coronil

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Let’s find out what the answer is.

What is the English meaning of entorno?

To begin with, entorno is a noun and the meaning of this word is environment or surroundings. However, it is important to say that entorno encompasses the same broad meaning of the English word “environment,” meaning “the circumstances, objects, or conditions by which one is surrounded.” Let’s take a look at some examples:

... las calles, la gente... lo que es el entorno urbano.

... the streets, the people... what the urban environment is.

Captions 39-40, Leif - El Arquitecto Español y su Arte

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Para modificar el entorno, desarrolló herramientas, ¿no?

In order to modify the environment, he developed tools, right?

Caption 50, Lo que no sabías - Arte electrónico

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Regarding the last example, the word entorno is very common in information and computer science, especially when talking about the features that define the execution and placement of a particular application.

The meaning of the expression en torno

As far as the expression en torno goes, we can use it to mean about, around or approximately. Let’s take a look:

que hay en torno a cincuenta millones, eh, hispanohablantes en Estados Unidos.

that there there are about fifty million, um, Spanish speakers in the United States.

Captions 42-43, El Instituto Cervantes - Director del Instituto

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Puede andar en torno a los dos mil seiscientos...

It could be around two thousand six hundred...

Caption 50, 75 minutos - Gangas para ricos

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Finally, keep in mind that en torno is either followed by the preposition a or the preposition de:

• Ella llegó en torno a la medianoche.
• She arrived around midnight.

• Las esculturas en torno de la iglesia.
• The sculptures around the church.

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That's it for this lesson. Now that you know the difference between entorno and en torno, you can answer the questions we posed at the beginning, right? And don’t forget to send us your feedback and suggestions.

Combining Parts of Speech - Part 1

Combining Parts of Speech - Part 3

Combining Parts of Speech - Part 4

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Let's continue reviewing examples of phrases that combine prepositions, articles and pronouns. In the previous lesson we talked about combining the preposition con (with) with the indefinite articles (el, la, los, las) and the pronoun que (that, which): con la que, con el que, con los que, con las que (with whom or with which). Let's see the examples, because in real context these phrases can be quite tricky. 
 

Les preguntaron cómo debería ser la escuela

They were asked the question of what the school

con la que ellos sueñan.

that they dream of should be like.

Captions 6-7, Club de las ideas - La escuela que queremos

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We can try a more literal translation just to see how Spanish works:  "what the school of/with which they dream should be like." Here's another example:
 

No me parecía el tipo de gente con el que yo me quería involucrar.

They didn't seem to be the kind of people I wanted to get involved with.

Caption 81, Arturo Vega - Entrevista - Part 2

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Do you want a literal translation? Here it is: "they didn't seem to be the kind of people with which I wanted to get involved."

It seems that Spanish and English are more parallel when using the plural forms:
 

Estos espacios recrean un capítulo histórico

These spaces recreate a historic chapter

con los que el coriano convive a diario.

with which the Corian resident coexists daily.

Caption 38, Coro, Venezuela - La Zona Colonial

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...y para beneficiar las comunidades con las que trabajamos.

...and to benefit those communities with whom we work.

Caption 48, De consumidor a persona - Short Film

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Now let's see how to combine el que, la que, los que, las que with two similar prepositions: por and para. Understanding the difference between these two is a constant challenge, even for advanced learners, so you can never study them too much!

...aquí están las puertas abiertas para el que quiera trabajar.

...here the doors are open for whomever wants to work.

Caption 38, Circo Infantil de Nicaragua - Learning the Trade

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...por el que transitan trece millones de clientes al año.

...through which thirteen million customers pass per year.

Caption 14, Los Reporteros - Crecen los robos en tiendas

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Esa es buena para la que fuma el puro.

That one is good for the one who smokes cigars.

Caption 44, 75 minutos - Gangas para ricos

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Y ésta es la razón por la que cuando se piensa en un nombre

And this is the reason why when one thinks of a name

que contribuya a...

that contributes to...

Captions 22-23, El Instituto Cervantes - Director del Instituto

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Existe el metro y el autobús

There is the subway and the bus

para los que tienes que comprar billetes.

for which you have to buy tickets.

Captions 69-70, Blanca - Cómo moverse en Barcelona

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De las etapas por las que pasan los conjuntos...

Of the stages that groups go through...

Caption 74, Arturo Vega - Entrevista - Part 3

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