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etwa

adv · /ˈɛtva/ ·
Etymology

From Middle High German etwā, contraction of etewā (also eteswā), from Old High German edde(s)hwār (“somewhere”). For the first component compare etlich, etwas; the second is wo (“where”). A related formation was Middle High German ete(s)wanne, in which the second component is wann (“when”). It yielded modern etwan, which was displaced by the 19th century.

Translation

  1. approximately

    Das Gebäude ist etwa 30 Meter hoch.

    The height of the building is approximately 30 metres.

  2. for instance

    bei Behinderungen, etwa durch Sturmschäden

    in case of obstructions, for instance through storm damage

    Etwa AfD-Politikerin Beatrix von Storch twitterte: »Das linke woke Paralleluniversum wackelt.«

    For instance, AfD politician Beatrix von Storch tweeted: "The woke left's parallel universe is crumbling."

  3. by any chance, possibly

    Alle etwa anfallenden Zusatzkosten trägt der Auftraggeber.

    All additional costs that may be incurred shall be borne by the customer.

  4. really; expresses surprise or the expectation of a negative answer modal

    Willst du etwa schon gehen?

    Do you really want to leave so soon?