approximately
Loading your saved state.
approximately
Expresses that a detail such as a number, amount, or time is not exact, but only approximate. It is an alternative spelling of 'circa' and a synonym of 'ungefähr' (approximately).
Die Fahrt zum Flughafen dauert zirka eine Stunde.
The trip to the airport takes approximately one hour.
'Zirka' (approximately) almost always comes directly before the number or quantity that it makes approximate. It modifies the word that immediately follows it.
Wir brauchen für die Party zirka 20 Flaschen Wasser.
We need approximately 20 bottles of water for the party.
'Zirka' (approximately) is used very often with times, amounts of money, distances, and other units of measurement to express an estimate.
Das Buch kostet zirka 30 Euro.
The book costs approximately 30 euros.
The spelling 'zirka' with 'z' is very common in German and is often used in everyday language and in more informal texts.
Für das Rezept benötigst du zirka 500 Gramm Mehl.
For the recipe, you need approximately 500 grams of flour.
exact / precise
'genau' and 'zirka' are opposites when it comes to numbers, times, and quantities. You use 'genau' when a detail is exact. You use 'zirka' when a detail is only approximately correct. This is especially important with times, prices, distances, or quantities. If you know the exact number, you say 'genau'. If you are estimating or rounding, you say 'zirka'.
Nach der Arbeit hat der Download zirka zwanzig Minuten gedauert.
After work, the download took approximately twenty minutes.
Heute brauchen wir im Krankenhaus genau drei Formulare.
Today we need exactly three forms at the hospital.