примерно vs около

primerno vs okolo — approximately vs about/around

What it really means

Примерно is an adverb meaning “approximately,” emphasizing an estimate and able to modify times, quantities, or measurements. Около is a preposition meaning “about/around” and normally governs the genitive: «около пяти часов». Около can also mean physically “near,” so context distinguishes approximation from location.

Examples in natural speech

Это займёт примерно час.
This will take approximately an hour.
Ему примерно тридцать лет.
He is about thirty years old.
Около пяти часов мы уже ушли.
We had already left at about five o’clock.
В зале около ста мест.
There are about one hundred seats in the hall.
Аптека находится около вокзала.
The pharmacy is near the station.

Common mistakes

Do not use около as an adverb without the required genitive phrase when it means “about.” Do not forget that «около дома» usually means “near the house,” and do not confuse approximate «примерно» with a precise figure.

Memory tip

Примерно labels an estimate; около either surrounds a quantity grammatically or places something nearby.

Frequently asked questions

Why is the case after около genitive?

Около is a preposition that governs the genitive: «около десяти минут», «около станции».

Can примерно occur before a noun?

Yes, especially with age or quantity: «примерно сто человек»; it remains an adverb rather than a case-governing preposition.

How do I tell около “about” from “near”?

A number or time usually signals approximation; a place noun such as «дом» usually signals physical proximity.

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