# Roughly, the time in words — it's about…

> Smartwatch complication that tells approximate time in words. (iPhone/iPad app by Iain Anderson.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/roughly-the-time-in-words/id1086283722 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Iain Anderson](https://appshunter.io/developer/356141657)
- Category: Utilities
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.40/5 from 31 App Store ratings · 40 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 13.0 · 15 MB
- Languages: American English, Czech, Danish, Dutch, German (Germany), Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian Bokmål, European Portuguese, Russian and 3 more
- Released: 2016-03-11
- Data updated: 2026-06-10
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/roughly-the-time-in-words/id1086283722/reviews.md

## What is Roughly, the time in words?

"Roughly" is a Watch complication, for Modular and many other watch faces, that tells you the approximate time, in words. Times are given to the nearest five minutes: "it's about ten to six", "it's about quarter past three", or "it's about five o'clock". Accurate but imprecise, it's a "fuzzy clock".

Roughly is meant to be fun, but can also be useful for those with dyscalculia (numeric dyslexia) or for the lazy. When you're asked what the time is, you can just read it out.

Roughly can be shown in the large central area of any Modular watch face, and in a single line of text on many other watch faces, including Activity Analog, Utility, Motion, Photo, Mickey or Minnie. Please note that on the single line complication, the hour may be shown as a digit if there is insufficient space for a word. For example, "TWENTY FIVE PAST 12" may be shown rather than "TWENTY FIVE PAST TWELVE". This is more common on a smaller Watch, and if it's an issue for you, please use a Modular face instead.


## Instructions

The iPhone app only displays an image. To load Roughly, install the iPhone app, then wait for it to install on your paired Apple Watch, or install it manually through the Watch app on your iPhone.

Force Touch (hard press) on the watch face to change it, then switch to the Modular face, or a face which supports a single line of text. Press Customize, then activate the Middle complication on Modular or the Bottom or Below Time complication on another face. Choose Roughly from the list there, then press the digital crown twice to return to the watch face.

On your iPhone, you can also use the Watch app to install Roughly, and to choose a language. After changing languages, tap on the complication to update it.

## NOTE: Sorry for the delay between releases; I was unable to post an update due to issues with App Store backend systems which took a long, long time to diagnose.

Also, sincere apologies if you're unable to change languages, which should work for most but may fail for some. There have been many changes in the way Settings are accessed since Roughly was first written, and the method currently used has been deprecated. As I'm more of a video editor and Final Cut Pro trainer than a coder, it may take a little while to bring the app up to date. (But hey — if you are interested in video editing, please check out my book at fcpefficientediting.com?)

## Many thanks to these translators:
Mohammed Al-Noury @momo_alnoury
Leo Hans @twleohans
Felix Schenk
Michael Kurath @michaelkurath
Tom K
Dave @Deloextra
Tom Schrier @Fantazy_cow
Matyáš Strelec @matyasstrelec
Du The Hao (Kelvin Du) duthehao@icloud.com
Oros Imre

## Key features

- Tells time in words
- Approximate time to nearest five minutes
- "Fuzzy clock" functionality
- Supports Modular and other watch faces
- Language selection

## Recent user reviews (10 of 40)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/roughly-the-time-in-words/id1086283722/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Umm…hello?

*2025-06-07, version 1.8*

Don’t waste your time downloading this, because it doesn’t do anything….?!?!

### 1/5 — Waste of time thus far

*2024-05-18, version 1.8*

I’ve tried every possible option to load this do nothing app on my iPhone & Ultra. After switching default mode in language options to English…NOTHING. THE WATCH INSTRUCTS YOU TO DOWNLOAD ON PHONE. THE ORANGE COLOR ROUGHLY APP doesn’t even appear on watch. I’ve deleted numerous times & reinstalled. Waste of time for hours.

### 5/5 — Love this complication

*2023-03-28, version 1.8*

Exactly what I was looking for. I wish I could turn off the clock on Apple Watch and show this complication instead. (Not the app’s fault! A limitation inexplicably imposed by Apple)

### 3/5 — Плохая русская локализация.

*2022-08-16*

Добавили русский язык. Это определённо радует. Но исполнение могло быть и лучше. Пока что это выглядит очень сыро.
К примеру, время 15:10, а на экран выводится «примерно десять третьего» (а должно быть «десять минут четвёртого», как вы понимаете…). Нужно исправлять. Наймите хорошего переводчика, что ли.
Исправите русскую локализацию - будет 5⭐️.

### 4/5 — please add it to be compatible with more watch faces!

*2022-01-27, version 1.7*

i want this on all my watch faces it’s brilliant, not just the two that are available now. It would be 5 stars then

### 2/5 — Only works in English…

*2021-12-22*

Despite the author’s assertions that this app is also able to work in languages other than English, it does not - whatever language I select, it only displays time in English.

### 5/5 — Please, Apple, steal this App

*2021-11-08*

Ernsthaft, Apple, nehmt die App als Anregung und macht ein eigenes Zifferblatt draus. 
Und Mac User, holt euch die App FuzzyTime. Die bring euch die Zeit als Text in die Menüleiste.
An den Entwickler: Danke für diesen App-Edelstein. 💎

### 5/5 — Add IAP donation so we can support you !

*2021-04-19*

Great app, as per title, let us support the app, would gladly buy a coffee!

### 3/5 — Needs better face support

*2021-04-13, version 1.7*

Not all faces support this complication in all slots. Please update.

### 5/5 — A must for any Apple Watch owner

*2021-04-03, version 1.7*

I use this on all my analogue faces as I seem to have forgotten how to tell the time.  

The only thing I’d love to see added is support for the larger complications such as the central part of infograph modular.

## Frequently asked questions about Roughly, the time in words

### What does the Roughly app do?

Roughly is a smartwatch complication that displays the approximate time in words, rounded to the nearest five minutes. It offers a fun and less precise way to tell time, often referred to as a "fuzzy clock."

### How do I set up Roughly on my Apple Watch?

Install the iPhone app, then wait for it to sync to your paired Apple Watch or install it manually via the Watch app. On your watch face, force touch to change it, select a compatible face (like Modular), press Customize, activate the desired complication slot, and choose Roughly from the list.

### Is Roughly free to use?

Yes, the application is free to use. There are no in-app purchases or advertisements mentioned in the provided description.

### What devices is Roughly compatible with?

The app is designed as a complication for Apple Watch faces, specifically mentioning support for Modular and many other watch faces like Activity Analog, Utility, Motion, Photo, Mickey, and Minnie. An iPhone app is required for installation and language selection.

### Who would benefit from using this app?

This app is beneficial for anyone who enjoys a more casual or fun way to check the time. It can also be particularly useful for individuals with dyscalculia (numeric dyslexia) or those who find reading precise digital times inconvenient.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.8 — 2022-08-11

Hungarian, Russian and Portuguese language support. Sorry for the delay!

### 1.7 — 2020-09-01

Vietnamese language support. Fixed a bug where Roughly would get stuck without a manual refresh.

### 1.6 — 2019-11-03

• Infograph bezel
• watchOS 6

### 1.5 — 2019-03-18

Improvements to Italian and Czech translations.
Support for Apple Watch Series 4's Infograph Modular face.

### 1.4 — 2018-09-12

Experimental Czech language support. Switched to a more modern update API.

## Apps similar to Roughly, the time in words

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [WatchMaster - Style Your Watch](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/watchmaster-style-your-watch/id1615535353) | 4.1 (14) | Free | Utilities |
| [Custom Word Clock - TextTime](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/custom-word-clock-texttime/id6449908609) | 5.0 (4) | Free | Utilities |
| [WatchTheTime: Custom Watchface](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/watchthetime-custom-watchface/id1449385366) | 3.6 (39) | Free | Utilities |
| [DateGlance - Complication](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dateglance-complication/id1534902360) | 4.2 (20) | $0.99 | Utilities |
| [BatteryPhone](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/batteryphone/id1191334332) | 3.7 (148) | Free | Utilities |
| [Chronomizer: Custom Watchfaces](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chronomizer-custom-watchfaces/id1575316929) | 3.4 (30) | Free | Utilities |

## More apps by Iain Anderson

- [Alphazed](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alphazed/id445330191)

All apps by Iain Anderson: https://appshunter.io/developer/356141657

## Related topics

[iain anderson](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/iain-anderson) · [timeinwords](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/timeinwords) · [durood time](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/durood-time) · [the andersons](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/the-andersons)

---

*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*