How to Say "Approximately" in Italian

approssimativamente

/ap.pros.si.ma.ti.vaˈmen.te/

The English phrase 'approximately' can be translated into Italian as approssimativamente, approssimatamente or circa.

Meaning: imprecise but close to in quantity or amount (adv)

Ways to say it

All these forms are used to express that a quantity or amount is imprecise but close to a specific value.

While approssimativamente is a direct cognate of the English word, circa is a much more common and concise way to say 'approximately' or 'about'.

The word circa is invariable, meaning it does not change regardless of the noun it modifies.

/ap.pros.si.ma.ti.vaˈmen.te/

The word circa comes directly from the Latin circā, which originally meant 'in a circle' or 'around'.
To express 'approximately' in a very informal way, Italians might use the phrase più o meno, which literally translates to 'more or less'.
Italian speakers often use the word quasi, meaning 'almost', as a substitute for circa when they want to imply the amount is slightly under the target.

Il treno rimarrà in stazione per circa 2 minuti.
The train will remain at this station for approximately 2 minutes.
This sentence is useful for showing how to use circa to describe a duration of time.
Tatoeba #4922293 by caroluna, translation #4922109 by gustonrankin
Ci sono circa mille parlanti nativi di esperanto!
There are approximately a thousand native speakers of Esperanto!
This sentence is useful for showing how to use circa with a specific quantity.
Tatoeba #13382738 by Guybrush88, translation #13191188 by octobaguette
Tom è alto approssimativamente un metro e ottanta.
Tom is approximately six feet tall.
This sentence is useful for showing how to use approssimativamente to describe a measurement.
Tatoeba #5212645 by Guybrush88, translation #5212521 by CK
Ci vorranno circa due ore
It will take approximately two hours
C'erano pressappoco cinquanta persone all'evento
There were approximately fifty people at the event
Il prezzo approssimativo è venti euro
The approximate price is twenty euros
10 more sentences on Tatoeba

Giulia and Francesco are discussing the cost of a dinner.

Giulia

Quanto costa questa cena?
How much does this dinner cost?
Francesco

Costa approssimativamente cinquanta euro.
It costs approximately fifty euros.
Giulia

È un prezzo onesto per noi.
That is a fair price for us.
Francesco

Sì, Giulia, credo di sì.
Yes, Giulia, I think so.

Sources

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