👉 See also: Environ (about, approximately) — Word of the Day »
Level A2 (Upper Beginner)
🎧 Audio by Marie Assel Cambier — native speaker & pro voice artist from France
The French word of the day is à peu près. Today you’ll learn its:
✅ Meaning
✅ Pronunciation
✅ Example sentences
✅ Related Words & Expressions
✅ Related lessons
📘 Meaning of à peu près
À peu près is a common French expression meaning “approximately,” “about,” or “roughly.” It’s used when giving an estimate or when something is close but not exact, and in everyday language it can refer to numbers, quantities, time, or even accuracy — much like saying “around” or “more or less” in English. (See examples below.)
🎧 Pronunciation of à peu près
IPA: /a‿pø pʁɛ/ — listen and repeat to practice.
📝 4 French and English Examples
À peu près – approximately
Il y avait à peu près 50 personnes à la réunion.
There were approximately 50 people at the meeting.
Je comprends à peu près ce qu’il dit.
I more or less understand what he’s saying.
👉 See also: Comprendre conjugation (to understand) »
Il est à peu près prêt à commencer.
He’s almost ready to start.
Le projet est à peu près terminé.
The project is nearly finished.
💬 Related words & expressions
- environ – about, around
- vers – around (time)
- plus ou moins – more or less
- presque – almost
- quasiment – nearly, almost
- à peu de choses près – give or take, almost exactly
- à la louche – roughly, by guess
- approximativement – approximately
💡 Expand Your French Skills
Now that you’ve mastered à peu près, check out my related lesson on presque (almost) and vers (around, towards). Want to keep learning every day? Explore my French Word of the Day series!
