English

Etymology

Latin circa

Pronunciation

• (UK) /ˈsɜːkə/, /"s3:k@/
• (US) /ˈsɝkə/, /"s3`k@/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(r)kə
• Hyphenation: cir·ca

Preposition

circa

1. approximately, about

   Julius Caesar visited this area ca. 50 BC

Usage notes

• Used only before dates.
• Abbreviated as either ca., ca, or c., rarely as cca. or cir...

Translations

• Finnish: noin
• German: circa; abbreviations ca.; alternate form zirka
• Hebrew: בקירוב (be'qiruv)
• Italian: circa
• Polish: około; abbreviation ok.''
• Spanish: cerca de, aproximadamente
• Portuguese: cerca de, aproximadamente
• French: environ
• Korean: ~경, 대략;

Latin

Adverb

circa

1. around; about

Preposition

circa + accusative case

1. around; near; about

Circa (often abbreviated c., ca., ca or cca. and sometimes italicized to show it is Latin) literally means "about" or "around". It is widely used in genealogy and historical writing, when the dates of events are approximately known.

For example, an encyclopedia entry for Genghis Khan may begin with "Genghis Khan (c. 1162 – August 18, 1227)".

When used in date ranges, a circa is applied before each approximate date, while dates without a circa immediately preceding them are generally assumed to be known with certainty. For instance, the 1162 in the above example is approximate, but the August 18, 1227 is known.

See also

• Circadian rhythm
• Floruit