German word

cirka

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈtsɪɐ̯ka/

Meaning

  • adverbabout

Example

Der Zug kommt cirka um acht an.

The train arrives at about eight.

Illustration for cirka (about)

More examples

Das Projekt dauert cirka ein Jahr.

The project takes about a year.

Core concept

A small zone of uncertainty surrounding a stated number, date, or time.

Common phrases

  • cirka ein Jahr

    about a year

  • cirka 30 Minuten

    about 30 minutes

  • cirka 50 Prozent

    about 50 percent

Similar words

ungefähr: An inexact number or time given as an estimate.
etwa: A rough amount or time used to give an approximate idea.
rund: A rounded quantity or percentage, rather than an exact figure.

Definition in German

Ausdrückt, dass eine Angabe nicht genau, sondern ungefähr gilt.

Word origin

German cirka derives from Latin circa, meaning "around" or "about", and serves as an approximate marker in modern German.

Usage tips

  • The written abbreviation ca. commonly replaces cirka before dates, quantities, and times, while cirka also occurs in running text.

Opposites

  • präzisepreciselyadverb

Word lists with this word