ungefähr

Ungefähr is a German adverb used to indicate an estimate or approximation. It conveys that a value, amount, time, or measurement is not exact, but close to the stated figure. The word can modify numerals, quantities, durations, ages, prices, and other quantities, and it can appear before the element it qualifies or after the verb, depending on the sentence.

Usage notes:

- Before numbers or expressions: ungefäh r zwei Stunden, ungefäh r zehn Kilometer, ungefähr 50 Euro.

- With ages: Er ist ungefähr dreißig Jahre alt.

- With proportions or percentages: Ungefähr 20 Prozent nahmen teil.

- In comparative or approximate phrases: Das ist ungefähr so groß wie das andere.

- In formal writing, Circa or ca. are common equivalents, but ungefäh r remains widely used in everyday language and journalism.

Nuances and related terms:

- Synonyms or near-synonyms include etwa, circa, circa, rund, fast. They differ in formality and nuance; circa and ca. tend to be more formal or technical, while unge fähr is versatile and commonly spoken.

- Unlike exact terms, unge fähr does not imply precision and should not be used when a precise value is required.

See also:

- Circa, about, approximately (in other languages)

- Etwa, circa, rund, fast (related German terms for approximation)

Overall, unge fähr is a standard, flexible tool in German for expressing estimation in a wide range of contexts.