adverb
approximately, about
B1
Ungefähr is an adverb meaning 'approximately' or 'about' (rough estimate). Use it before numbers or amounts: 'ungefähr 10 Minuten'. It’s a degree adverb (synonyms: etwa, circa). Not reflexive; no auxiliary verbs; no inflection—stays the same in sentences. Can be interchangeable with 'etwa' or 'zirka' in many contexts.
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Die Fahrt dauert ungefähr zwei Stunden.
The trip takes approximately two hours.
Er ist ungefähr 30 Jahre alt.
He's about thirty years old.
Der Zug hatte ungefähr drei Stunden Verspätung, weil ein umgestürzter Baum die Gleise blockierte, sodass die Fahrgäste länger warten mussten.
The train was about three hours late because an overturned tree blocked the tracks, so the passengers had to wait longer.
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Picture scribbled numbers with a wavy line next to them — an estimate rather than an exact value.
Think 'un-guess-fair' -> an unprecise (not fair) guess: approximate.
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Although listed here as an adjective, ungefähr is commonly used as an adverb meaning 'about' or 'approximately'.