unas 10 veces....?

Question

If I want to translate the phrase "about 10 times..... or approximately 10 times"; is it more natural Spanish to use "unas 10 veces"?

In other words I don't wish to use the literal translation "sobre" or "aproximadamente". I've seen this in a magazine and wondered if it's more natural for Spanish speakers.

Muchas gracias.

Well, I guess no one knows. jejeje - rac1, Jan 7, 2015

Good things happen to those who are patient! :) - bandit51jd, Jan 7, 2015

Answer 1

I'm not sure. I would use "como 10 veces." I'm not even sure if that's considered "correct."

Right! - LuisCache, Jan 8, 2015

Answer 2

I agree with the other answers, there are various possibilities.

"Unas diez veces" does not mean "about". It is the same as "diez veces", but with "unas" there is emphasis added.

Yes, probably very much like the English- some 10 times- sort of like about, but sort of like 10 times with emphasis. :) - bosquederoble, Jan 7, 2015

Answer 3

Is correct, the magazines seek to be social, they also someones have words in english like "selfie" "look" with atractive titles like: "En que categoría está tu chico" "Como tener pegue con el boy de tus sueños"

i´m not lying!

http://www.tuenlinea.com/

Howerver exist other magazines more interesting, they use the word like:

Aproximadamente cada diez minutos se registran este tipo de casos...

Ejerce una presión arriba/encima de los 100 grados centigrados...

100 metros sobre el nivel del mar.

Alrededor de 500 especies en....

http://www.muyinteresante.es/

In summary,

Formal: Aproximadamente, al rededor de...

Informal: Más o menos, unas 10 veces, como 10 veces.

PD:

Por donde vivo cuando no estamos seguros de la cantidad decimos:

Como unas

¿Cuantas vueltas le diste a la manzana? Como unas 10 vueltas.

Answer 4

I tend to use más o menos a lot, but in our dictionary there are at least 5 options, including the two mentioned already. I do not know what is most natural for a native speaker.

http://www.spanishdict.com/translate/about

1 (approximately) más o menos; aproximadamente; alrededor de

about £20 unas 20 libras; 20 libras más o menos;there were about 25 guests había unos 25 invitados; había como 25 invitados; especially (LAm)

Really helpful! Muchas gracias! - bandit51jd, Jan 7, 2015

Hopefully a native speaker will comment as to whether they have any preferences for natural speech vs. literary, etc. :) - bosquederoble, Jan 7, 2015

Bosque, has dado en el clavo una vez más. Tienes mi voto. - Daniela2041, Jan 7, 2015