A cartoon hand is hovering over a tall, colorful stack of wooden blocks, gesturing vaguely to the height of the stack, representing an estimated quantity rather than a precise count.

aproximadamente

ah-prok-see-mah-dah-MEN-teh

adverbA2

approximately?giving an estimate,roughly?less formal estimate

Also:about?used before a number or quantity,around?used before a number or quantity

📝 In Action

La reunión durará aproximadamente una hora.

The meeting will last approximately one hour.

Hay aproximadamente cincuenta personas en el auditorio.

There are roughly fifty people in the auditorium.

El costo total será de doscientos euros, aproximadamente.

The total cost will be two hundred euros, approximately.

Necesitas aproximadamente dos litros de agua al día.

You need about two liters of water a day.

Word Connections

Synonyms

más o menos (more or less)
alrededor de (around (when referring to numbers))
cerca de (close to)

Antonyms

exactamente (exactly)
precisamente (precisely)

Common Collocations

cálculo aproximadamente – approximately calculated
aproximadamente a las tres – at approximately three o'clock

💡 Grammar Points

The '-mente' Adverb Ending

This word ends in '-mente,' which almost always turns an adjective (like 'aproximado') into an adverb, similar to adding '-ly' in English. It tells you how something is done or how much.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the Adjective instead of the Adverb

Mistake: "El precio es aproximado 50 dólares."

Correction: El precio es aproximadamente 50 dólares.

⭐ Usage Tips

Flexible Placement

You can place 'aproximadamente' before the number or phrase it modifies, or you can place it at the end of the sentence for a slightly more informal feel: 'Cuesta aproximadamente diez euros' or 'Cuesta diez euros, aproximadamente.'

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: aproximadamente

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'aproximadamente'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

aproximar(to approximate, to approach) - verb

aproximación(approximation, approach) - noun

aproximado(approximate) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'aproximadamente' formal or informal?

'Aproximadamente' is a neutral word and can be used in both formal writing and casual conversation. It is the standard, precise way to say 'approximately.'

Can I use 'más o menos' instead?

Yes, 'más o menos' (more or less) is a common synonym, but it is much more casual. Use 'aproximadamente' when you need to sound more professional or when dealing with larger numbers.