Schätzen

Schätzen is a German verb with several related meanings centered on valuing, estimating, or appreciating something or someone. The primary sense is to estimate or assess the quantity, value, cost, or magnitude of something: Ich schätze die Kosten auf etwa hundert Euro. It can also mean to guess or suppose: Ich schätze, dass er kommt. In a more personal sense, schätzen can mean to value highly or to appreciate someone: Ich schätze deine Hilfe sehr, or Ich schätze dich as a compliment of esteem.

Usage and forms

Schätzen is used with a direct object, often with a numerical or qualitative assessment: Wir schätzen das Risiko niedrig ein. The verb also appears in the separable-prefix form abschätzen, meaning to estimate roughly or to gauge in advance: Wir müssen die Kosten abschätzen. Participles include geschätzt (valued, estimated) and abschätzen (to estimate roughly). The perfect tense is ich habe geschätzt, and the simple past is ich schätzte.

Noun and related terms

The noun Schätzung means estimation, appraisal, or estimation of value: eine Schätzung der Kosten. Related terms include Einschätzung (assessment), Bewertung (valuation), and Schätzer (estimator or appraiser).

Etymology

Schätzen derives from Old High German and Middle High German roots related to valuing or treasuring, with the sense of placing value on something. The related noun Schatz means treasure, helping to explain the link between value and estimation in the modern verb.

See also

Schätzung, Bewertung, Einschätzung, Schätzer.