adverb
about, approximately, around
B1
Etwa: an adverb meaning 'about', 'approximately' or 'around' used for estimates (e.g., etwa fünf Minuten). Common in numerical approximations and tentative statements. It can also imply 'perhaps' in questions. Not a preposition; place usually before numbers or phrases: etwa 20 Personen. Neutral register.
Examples
Etwa 50 Personen nahmen an der Veranstaltung teil.
Around fifty people took part in the event.
Das Buch kostet etwa zehn Euro.
The book costs about ten euros.
Er kommt etwa um sechs Uhr.
He'll arrive at around six o'clock.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture a fuzzy number with a tilde (~) above it and the word 'etwa'.
Sounds like 'eh-two-ah' — think of approximating numbers.
Notes
Used to give approximate quantities or times; similar to 'ungefähr' or 'circa'.