Predvídám

Předvídám is a Czech verb meaning “I foresee” or “I anticipate.” It is the first-person singular present tense form of predvídat, an imperfective verb that describes foreseeing or anticipating future events or developments. The word is commonly used to express expectations based on current signs, reasoning, or experience rather than precise certainty.

Etymology and relation: The form combines the prefix před- meaning “before” with a root related to vidět, “to see,” or its iterative variant vídat. Thus the core idea is to see ahead. Related nouns and adjectives include předvídání (foreseeing, anticipation) and předvídavý (foresighted, anticipatory). The term is cognate with equivalents in other Slavic languages.

Usage and nuance: In Czech, predvídat denotes a general sense of anticipating future outcomes, often from signs or trends. It is distinct from předpovídat or předpovědět, which emphasize more explicit forecasting or predicting, usually with a sense of probability or data-driven reasoning. Predvídám is often used for developments, consequences, or scenarios rather than a specific pinpoint forecast. It is common in both everyday speech and more analytical contexts when describing how someone expects events to unfold.

Forms and related terms: Present tense forms include já předvídám, ty předvídáš, on předvídá, my předvídáme, vy předvídáte, oni předvídají. The verb is imperfective, so it describes ongoing or repeated foreseeing rather than a completed act. Related terms include předvídání (the act of foreseeing), předvídatelnost (predictability), and its near-synonyms předpovědět, which is used for more definite forecasts. Example: Předvídám, že hospodářský růst se zlepší, pokud budou splněny podmínky.