Non vedo nessuno intorno.

In Italian, this is completely normal. Italian uses negative concord, which means more than one negative element can appear in the same clause, but the sentence still has just one negative meaning.

So Non vedo nessuno means I don’t see anyone or I see no one. It does not turn into a positive meaning.

By itself, nessuno basically means no one / nobody. But in a sentence with non, natural English often uses anyone / anybody.

So:

• Non vedo nessuno = I don’t see anyone
• more literally: I see nobody

Both are good ways to understand the Italian.

Because nessuno is the direct object of vedere, and the most neutral word order is verb + object.

So:

• vedo = I see
• nessuno = no one / anyone

Also, in Italian, when a negative word like nessuno comes after the verb, you normally also use non:

• Non vedo nessuno

If the negative word comes before the verb, non is usually omitted:

• Nessuno parla = Nobody is speaking

Italian often leaves out subject pronouns because the verb ending already shows who the subject is.

Here, vedo ends in -o, which tells you it means I see. So io is unnecessary unless you want emphasis or contrast:

• Io non vedo nessuno intorno, ma tu sì = I don’t see anyone around, but you do

Here intorno is an adverb meaning around, nearby, or around here.

So Non vedo nessuno intorno means that there is no one visible in the surrounding area.

It can also appear with a:

• intorno a me = around me

In your sentence, though, it stands alone as an adverb.

Because vedere means to see, while guardare means to look at or to watch.

• vedere = perceive with your eyes
• guardare = direct your eyes at something deliberately

So Non vedo nessuno intorno means you do not see anyone nearby.
Using guardo would suggest actively looking, which is a different idea.

Yes, but the focus is slightly different.

• Non vedo nessuno intorno = I don’t see anyone around
• Non c’è nessuno intorno = There isn’t anyone around

The first is about your perception.
The second is about whether anyone is there at all.

In many real situations, they can feel very similar, but they are not exactly the same.

Yes.

In your sentence, nessuno is a pronoun, standing alone and meaning no one / nobody.

Before a noun, it works more like no / not any and changes form:

• nessun problema = no problem
• nessuna persona = no person

You may also see nessuno before certain masculine noun sounds, such as nessuno studente.

So in Non vedo nessuno intorno, it is the standalone pronoun form.

Yes. Italian word order is fairly flexible, although the original sentence sounds neutral and natural.

For example:

• Non vedo nessuno intorno = neutral
• Intorno non vedo nessuno = more emphasis on the surroundings

As a learner, the original order is a very good one to use.

Yes. Some common alternatives are:

• Non vedo nessuno qui intorno = I don’t see anyone around here
• Non vedo nessuno in giro = I don’t see anyone around / out and about
• Non c’è nessuno in vista = No one is in sight

The original sentence, though, is perfectly natural and idiomatic.