General "around":
* Autour de: This is the most common and versatile translation. It can be used for both literal and figurative senses of "around."
* Environ: This is used when referring to approximate numbers or quantities.
Specific contexts:
* Autour de: This is often used for physical location (e.g., "autour de la table").
* Environs: This is more specific for geographic locations, referring to the surrounding area (e.g., "les environs de Paris").
* Près de: This means "near" or "close to," and can sometimes be used in place of "around" (e.g., "près du lac").
* À peu près: This means "approximately" and is often used for time or quantity.
Examples:
* Il y a environ 100 personnes dans la salle. (There are around 100 people in the room.)
* Ils ont marché autour du lac. (They walked around the lake.)
* Elle vit dans les environs de Lyon. (She lives in the area around Lyon.)
* J'arrive à peu près dans une heure. (I'll arrive around in an hour.)
The best translation will depend on the specific meaning you want to convey.