environ
Environ means 'about' or 'approximately' and always sits directly before a quantity: environ quatre ans (about four years), environ cent kilomètres (about a hundred kilometres). It softens any number when you don't know or don't need the exact figure — one of the most useful little words in everyday French.
Where you'll hear it
Romain
Quel est ton premier souvenir d'enfance, François ?
What is your first childhood memory, F?
François
Mon premier souvenir, Romain, c'est quand j'avais environ quatre ans. Je me rappelle d'une promenade avec mon grand-père dans la forêt près de chez nous. Et toi ?
My first memory, R, is when I was about four years old. I remember going for a walk with my grandfather in the forest near our house. What about you?
Romain
C'est un joli souvenir ! Pour moi, c'était lorsque j'ai reçu mon premier vélo pour mon cinquième anniversaire. Je me souviens encore de l'excitation que j'ai ressentie ce jour-là.
That's a nice memory! For me, it was when I got my first bike for my fifth birthday. I still remember the excitement I felt that day.
François
Oh, je peux imaginer ! Apprendre à faire du vélo, c'est un grand moment pour un enfant. Tu as dû être fier de toi.
Oh, I can imagine! Learning to ride a bike is a big moment for a kid. You must have been proud of yourself.
How it shows up
Le trajet dure environ deux heures.
The journey takes about two hours.
Il y avait environ cinquante personnes.
There were roughly fifty people.
Ça coûte environ vingt euros.
It costs about twenty euros.
Related expressions
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