ligikaudu

Ligikaudu is an Estonian adverb meaning approximately, about, or roughly. It is used to indicate an approximate quantity, duration, or extent and typically precedes the value it modifies, for example ligikaudu 100 inimest (about 100 people) or ligikaudu kaks tundi (roughly two hours). It can also qualify a statement, signaling that the information is not exact.

The word is common in written Estonian as well as in everyday speech, especially in journalism, statistics, and formal discourse where precise figures are not available or necessary. It tends to convey a neutral, measured estimate and is often preferred in contexts that require a careful approximation without asserting precision. In many situations ligikaudu can be substituted with synonyms such as umbese or peaaegu, but each carries slightly different nuance: umbese is more informal and broad, while peaaegu emphasizes closeness to a limit; ligikaudu sits somewhere in between, implying a defined but not exact figure.

Etymology-wise, ligikaudu is derived from the adjective ligikaudne (approximately) with the adverbial suffix -kaudu, forming an adverb that modifies numbers and time expressions. This makes ligikaudu a stable and widely understood term in Estonian vocabulary.