Introduction
Portuguese speakers often use approximations when talking about numbers and dates to sound more natural and relaxed. This article explains the main Portuguese approximation rules used with numbers and dates, provides clear examples in Brazilian Portuguese, and shows how to use them in everyday conversations.
- What are approximation expressions in Portuguese?
- Core approximation words and their meanings
- Placement and agreement with numbers
- Approximation with dates and times
- Using rounding and approximate fractions
- How to choose the right approximation word
- Common pitfalls and tips for learners
- Regional and cultural notes
- Putting it all together: practical examples
- Conclusion
What are approximation expressions in Portuguese?
Approximation expressions let speakers give an estimated amount or time without needing exact precision. These are common in casual speech and are important for learners because they make language sound more natural. Key expressions include mais ou menos, por volta de, aproximadamente, cerca de, quase, and um pouco mais/menos.
Core approximation words and their meanings
Mais ou menos
Mais ou menos is the most colloquial and versatile option, equivalent to English roughly or more or less. Use it before numbers, time expressions, or after a statement.
Examples:
Eu tenho mais ou menos 30 anos.
A reunião vai durar mais ou menos duas horas.
Por volta de
Por volta de is slightly more formal than mais ou menos and is commonly used for times and dates. It literally means around or around the time of.
Examples:
O evento começa por volta de 19h.
Ela nasceu por volta de 1990.
Cerca de and Aproximadamente
Cerca de and aproximadamente both mean approximately. Cerca de is very common in speech and writing, while aproximadamente is slightly more formal and often used in reports, news, or academic contexts.
Examples:
Havia cerca de 100 pessoas na festa.
O projeto custou aproximadamente 2.000 reais.
Quase
Quase means almost and is used when the amount is just short of a number. It often appears with numbers and time expressions.
Examples:
Faltam quase 10 minutos para o filme começar.
Ele tem quase 50 anos.
Um pouco mais/menos
These phrases mean a little more or a little less. They are useful when the difference from a round number is small.
Examples:
A mesa custa um pouco mais de 300 reais.
O percurso levou um pouco menos de uma hora.
Placement and agreement with numbers
Approximation phrases can appear before the number, after the number, or at the end of a sentence depending on emphasis and formality.
Before the number (more common in spoken Portuguese):
Eu tenho mais ou menos 25 anos.
After the number (neutral):
Eu tenho 25 anos, mais ou menos.
At the end for emphasis or contrast:
São 100 pessoas, cerca de.
Agreement and prepositions
Most approximation words do not require agreement in gender or number because they modify numerals or quantities. However, when combined with nouns they follow normal agreement rules: cerca de um milhão, cerca de uma hora, por volta das cinco horas.
Note the preposition de is often required after words like cerca, por volta, and aproximadamente: cerca de 50, por volta de 2000, aproximadamente de is incorrect; use apenas aproximadamente 2000 or aproximadamente + number.
Approximation with dates and times
Dates and times often use approximation because exact moments can be unknown or unimportant. Portuguese uses the same approximation expressions but with common time expressions like horas, manhã, tarde, noite, dia, semana, mês, ano.
Time examples
Use por volta de and mais ou menos for hours:
A festa começa por volta de 21h.
Chego aí em mais ou menos 30 minutos.
For parts of the day, use expressions like:
Ela vai chegar por volta de de manhã.
Voltamos no começo da tarde, mais ou menos às 14h.
Date examples (days, months, years)
Approximation is common when you remember a year but not the exact date, or when scheduling loosely.
Ele se mudou para São Paulo por volta de 2010.
A empresa foi fundada cerca de 50 anos atrás.
Using rounding and approximate fractions
Portuguese speakers often round numbers for convenience. Rounding rules are similar to English: round to the nearest ten, hundred, or thousand depending on context.
Round numbers and spoken shortcuts
When rounding, use cerca de or mais ou menos plus the rounded figure:
O país tem cerca de 200 milhões de habitantes.
Gastei mais ou menos 100 reais ontem.
Approximate fractions
Use words like meio, quase meio, or pouco mais para express fractions. Brazilian Portuguese commonly uses decimal or fractional approximations in speech.
Exemplos:
Ele chegou meia hora atrasado (30 minutos).
Faltou quase meia hora para o final do jogo.
How to choose the right approximation word
Choice depends on formality, precision, and speaker intention.
Informal everyday speech: mais ou menos, um pouco.
Neutral: cerca de, por volta de.
Formal or written: aproximadamente, cerca de.
Examples with context
Asking a friend (informal):
A que horas a festa começa?
Acho que começa mais ou menos às 20h.
Scheduling an appointment (neutral):
Pode chegar por volta de 10h?
Sim, por volta de 10h está bom.
Writing a report (formal):
O estudo durou aproximadamente seis meses.
Houve cerca de 1.200 participantes.
Common pitfalls and tips for learners
1. Avoid double prepositions: do not say por volta de de 1990. Use por volta de 1990.
2. Be careful with aproximadamente de; use aproximadamente 1990 or aproximadamente + number without de.
3. In casual speech, mais ou menos can appear at the end of the sentence, but in formal writing prefer aproximadamente or cerca de.
4. When using times, include h or horas for clarity: 19h, 19 horas, or às 19h.
Regional and cultural notes
In Brazil, speakers often favor informal approximations in conversation. In city life, saying mais ou menos is extremely common when estimating travel time, costs, or attendance. In formal situations—official documents, journalism, academic contexts—choose cerca de or aproximadamente. Older speakers may use slightly different phrasing, but the meanings are consistent across regions.
Putting it all together: practical examples
Travel time:
O trajeto até a praia leva mais ou menos uma hora.
O avião chega por volta de meia-noite.
Money and prices:
O ingresso custa cerca de 50 reais.
Gastei um pouco mais de 200 reais com jantar e cinema.
People and quantities:
Tinha quase 200 pessoas no show.
A cidade tem aproximadamente 500 mil habitantes.
Dates and history:
O município foi criado por volta de 1850.
Ele nasceu mais ou menos em 1985.
Conclusion
Mastering Portuguese approximation rules helps you sound natural and flexible when talking about numbers and dates. Learn the differences between mais ou menos, por volta de, cerca de, aproximadamente, and quase, practice their placement, and pick the right level of formality for each situation. With these tools, you will communicate estimates confidently in Brazilian Portuguese.
