लगभग (lagbhag)
adverb
A single-sense word meaning 'approximately, about' -- used before numbers, quantities, and time expressions to soften an exact figure.
Sense
1
:
approximately, about
adverb Placed directly before the number or quantity it modifies: लगभग दस लोग (lagbhag das log, 'approximately ten people').
Synonyms: करीब (kariib), तकरीबन (takriiban), अंदाज़न (andaazan, less common)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You will hear this constantly in everyday estimates -- prices, distances, timings -- much like English 'about' or 'roughly.' In casual speech करीब (kariib) is at least as common as लगभग (lagbhag), and the two are freely interchangeable in this sense; लगभग (lagbhag) leans very slightly toward written or careful speech, but you will hear both from any Delhi auto-wallah giving you an estimated fare.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes place लगभग (lagbhag) after the number instead of before it, e.g. saying दस लगभग लोग (das lagbhag log) instead of लगभग दस लोग (lagbhag das log). 2) लगभग (lagbhag) is often confused with करीब (kariib) -- both mean 'about,' but करीब (kariib) also independently means 'near' as a postposition/adjective, while लगभग (lagbhag) only ever means 'approximately' and has no spatial sense.
Sample Sentences:
यहाँ से स्टेशन लगभग दो किलोमीटर दूर है।
The station is about two kilometers from here.
(yahaan se steshan lagbhag do kilomiitar door hai।)
उस दिन लगभग सौ लोग आए थे।
About a hundred people had come that day.
(us din lagbhag sau log aae the।)
मीटिंग लगभग साढ़े तीन बजे शुरू होगी।
The meeting will start at about half past three.
(miiting lagbhag saadhe tiin baje shuroo hogii।)
काम लगभग पूरा हो चुका है, थोड़ा-सा बाकी है।
The work is almost finished; a little is left.
(kaam lagbhag pooraa ho chukaa hai, thodaa-saa baakii hai।)
अगर किराया लगभग दो सौ रुपये होता, तो मैं ऑटो ले लेता।
If the fare had been about two hundred rupees, I would have taken the auto.
(agar kiraayaa lagbhag do sau rupye hotaa, to main oto le letaa।)
बाज़ार यहाँ से लगभग पाँच मिनट पैदल है।
The market is about a five-minute walk from here.
(baazaar yahaan se lagbhag paanch minat paidal hai।)
उस समय मेरी उम्र लगभग बीस साल रही होगी।
I must have been about twenty years old at that time.
(us samay merii umr lagbhag biis saal rahii hogii।)
कृपया लगभग सही आंकड़े दें, बिल्कुल सटीक न भी हों तो चलेगा।
Please give roughly accurate figures; they don't have to be exactly precise.
(kripyaa lagbhag sahii aankde den, bilkul satiik n bhii hon to chalegaa।)
इस परियोजना में लगभग तीन करोड़ रुपये खर्च किए गए।
About three crore rupees were spent on this project.
(is pariyojnaa men lagbhag tiin karod rupye kharch kie gae।)
वह हर रोज़ लगभग आठ घंटे काम करता है।
He works for about eight hours every day.
(vah har roz lagbhag aath ghante kaam kartaa hai।)
भैया, यहाँ से एयरपोर्ट का लगभग कितना लगेगा?
Bhaiya, about how much will it cost to the airport from here?
(bhaiyaa, yahaan se eyarport kaa lagbhag kitnaa lagegaa?)