environ/ɑ̃.vi.ʁɔ̃/
adverb / noun · A2 · Frequency 1110
adverb
Meanings
about, close to, around
Used to indicate an approximate value of quantity, time, distance, etc., typically placed before a number.
Examples
La réunion durera environ deux heures.
The meeting will last about two hours.
Environ trente personnes ont participé à l'atelier.
About thirty people took part in the workshop.
Le trajet coûte environ vingt euros en taxi.
The trip costs around twenty euros by taxi.
Collocations
- environ 100 personnesabout 100 people
Common mistakes
Il y avait environ de 100 personnes.
Il y avait environ 100 personnes.
When the lemma environ means “about,” it directly precedes the number and is not followed by de.
Related words
synonymapproximativementroughly, approximately
nounmasculine
Meanings
a surrounding area, vicinity
Used as a noun to refer to the area surrounding a place, common in geographic or environmental contexts.
Examples
Il y avait environ cent personnes présentes à la réunion hier soir.
There were approximately one hundred people present at the meeting last night.
Collocations
- les environs de la villethe surroundings of the city
- environ dix minutesabout ten minutes
Common mistakes
environ 10 heures
vers 10 heures
‘Environ’ means 'approximately', but for time expressions, French more commonly uses ‘vers’. Using ‘environ’ for time is a common learner mistake.
les environ de la ville
les environs de la ville
To express 'the surrounding area of a city', the correct term is ‘les environs’. ‘Environ’ as a singular noun does not mean 'surroundings'.
Related words
synonymalentoursurroundings
synonymapproximativementapproximately
antonymexactementexactly
nounmasculine
Meanings
a surrounding area, vicinity
Used as a noun to refer to the area surrounding a place, common in geographic or environmental contexts.
Examples
Les environs du village sont calmes même en été.
The area around the village is quiet even in summer.
Nous avons cherché un restaurant dans les environs de la gare.
We looked for a restaurant in the vicinity of the station.
Un sentier permet de découvrir les environs du lac à pied.
A trail allows visitors to explore the area around the lake on foot.