Por Volta de vs. Cerca de in Portuguese: Giving an Approximate Time or Number — Practice
A guided practice lesson with English explanations, Brazilian Portuguese examples, and answers you can check. Read the examples, recall the meaning, then say a version of your own.
Use por volta de for an approximate time
Por volta de means “around” or “approximately” and commonly introduces a clock time. It tells the listener that the time is an estimate rather than an exact appointment.
The phrase can also introduce an approximate age or quantity, but you will often hear it with hours: por volta das oito (around eight). Notice the contraction de + as = das.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| A gente chega por volta das sete. | We’ll arrive around seven. |
| A aula termina por volta das nove e meia. | Class ends at around nine thirty. |
| Ele se mudou para o Brasil por volta de 2020. | He moved to Brazil around 2020. |
Use cerca de for an approximate amount or distance
Cerca de also means “about” or “approximately.” It works naturally with a number, distance, price, or quantity, especially in descriptions and estimates.
Cerca de is followed by the number or measurement: cerca de vinte pessoas, cerca de cinco quilômetros. If the amount is exact, state it without the approximation phrase.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| O passeio dura cerca de duas horas. | The tour lasts about two hours. |
| Fica a cerca de cinco quilômetros daqui. | It’s about five kilometers from here. |
| Vieram cerca de trinta pessoas à reunião. | About thirty people came to the meeting. |
Choose the phrase that sounds natural for your estimate
The expressions overlap, and both can give an approximate value. Por volta de is especially natural with a clock time; cerca de often introduces quantities and measurements.
If a listener needs a firm time, replace the estimate with an exact hour or say that you are not sure yet. An approximate phrase should not sound like a confirmed appointment.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| A reunião começa por volta das dez. | The meeting starts around ten. |
| O grupo tem cerca de quinze alunos. | The group has about fifteen students. |
| Ainda não sei a hora; talvez por volta do meio-dia. | I don’t know the time yet; maybe around noon. |
Remember: Use por volta de for an estimated time and cerca de for an approximate quantity or measurement. Both can mean “about.”
Check your understanding
Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.
Recall the Portuguese, then say it
Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.
We’ll arrive around seven.
Show a Portuguese answer
A gente chega por volta das sete.
Class ends at around nine thirty.
Show a Portuguese answer
A aula termina por volta das nove e meia.
He moved to Brazil around 2020.
Show a Portuguese answer
Ele se mudou para o Brasil por volta de 2020.
The tour lasts about two hours.
Show a Portuguese answer
O passeio dura cerca de duas horas.
It’s about five kilometers from here.
Show a Portuguese answer
Fica a cerca de cinco quilômetros daqui.
About thirty people came to the meeting.
Show a Portuguese answer
Vieram cerca de trinta pessoas à reunião.
Make the phrase useful to you
Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.
Use por volta de for an estimated time and cerca de for an approximate quantity or measurement. Both can mean “about.”
Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.
Sources and your next lesson
This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our Por Volta de vs. Cerca de in Portuguese: Giving an Approximate Time or Number lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.
To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.
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