kabaca

Kabaca is a Turkish adverb meaning roughly or approximately. It is used to indicate an estimate rather than an exact value, number, time, or amount in everyday language. For example, one might say “Kabaca 20 dakika sürecek” or “Kabaca 100 kişi geldi” to convey a near estimate without precision.

In informal speech, kabaca is common and easily understood. In more formal Turkish, speakers often prefer phrases such as yaklaşık olarak or tahminen to express approximation, depending on context and register. Kabaca tends to carry a practical, everyday nuance and can soften statements that would otherwise require exact figures.

Etymology-wise, kabaca is formed from the Turkish adjective kaba, meaning rough or coarse, with the adverbial suffix -ca. The sense has shifted to denote a rough or approximate measurement rather than the literal notion of roughness.

Usage notes include its ability to modify numerals, time expressions, or quantities. It can precede the element it approximates, as in “kabaca üç milyon,” or follow a verb when referring to a duration, as in “süre kabaca iki saat.” While versatile, it is best suited for non-precise statements in everyday communication; for precise figures, Turkish typically uses tam sayı, exactly, or net olarak when appropriate.

See also: approximate language in Turkish, gibi synonyms such as yaklaşık olarak, tahminen, neredeyse.