German word

circa

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈtsɪʁka/

Meaning

  • adverbabout

Example

Ich habe circa zehn Euro dabei.

I have about ten euros with me.

Illustration for circa (about)

More examples

Die Strecke ist circa 20 Kilometer lang.

The route is about 20 kilometers long.

Core concept

A number, amount, or time sits inside a soft boundary instead of at an exact point.

Common phrases

  • circa zehn Euro

    about ten euros

  • circa 50 Prozent

    about 50 percent

  • circa 1990er Jahre

    about the 1990s

Similar words

etwa: Marks an approximate number or amount in common everyday speech.
ungefähr: Gives a rough number, amount, or degree as an estimate.
rund: Introduces a number or amount that is roughly at the stated level.
ca.: A written abbreviation placed before a number to show an approximate value.

Definition in German

Ein Adverb, das bei Zahlen, Mengen oder Zeitangaben anzeigt, dass die Angabe nur ungefähr ist.

Word origin

German circa comes from Latin circa, meaning 'around', and marks an approximate number, amount, or time.

Usage tips

  • In formal writing, circa is often shortened to ca. before a number, while etwa or ungefähr is more common in everyday speech.

Opposites

Word lists with this word