German Conversation · Level 26
90 words
German word
etwa
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈɛtva/
Meaning
- adverbabout
Example
Er ist etwa fünfzig Jahre alt.
He's about fifty years old.
More examples
Das dauert etwa 10 Minuten.
That takes about 10 minutes.
Core concept
A rough marker beside a number or possibility, leaving the exact point open.
Common phrases
etwa 10 Minuten
about 10 minutes
etwa so
about like this
Similar words
ungefähr: Shows that a number or amount is roughly at that level.
rund: Gives a rounded estimate instead of a precise number.
ca.: Written before a number to mean approximately.
circa: Indicates an approximate date, quantity, or range.
Definition in German
Drückt eine grobe Schätzung oder Annäherung aus und kann vor Zahlen, Zeitangaben oder bei Vermutungen stehen: etwa = ‚ungefähr, circa‘.
Word origin
Etwa comes from Middle High German etewaz, related to etwas, and developed from an indefinite sense such as 'something' toward approximation.
Usage tips
- Before a number or time expression, etwa usually means 'approximately', while context can give it the meanings 'maybe' or 'for example'.
Other meanings
- maybeadverb
- for exampleadverb
Opposites
- genauexactlyadverb