abschätzen

Abschätzen is a German verb meaning to estimate or gauge something roughly, i.e., to form an approximate judgment about size, amount, cost, time, or risk. It can also refer to forming an impression of a person’s character or abilities, though in this context einschätzen is more common. The accompanying noun Abschätzung denotes the act or result of estimating; Schätzung is a more general noun for an estimate, with Abschätzung often emphasizing the process or roughness.

In usage, abschätzen is applied to numerical quantities as well as qualitative judgments. For example, man kann die Kosten grob abschätzen, or man schätzt den Zeitaufwand ab. In mathematics, science and engineering, Abschätzung describes deriving an approximate value or bound, such as eine grobe Abschätzung der Größe oder der Fehlergrenze. Phrasen wie grobe Abschätzung, Kostenabschätzung, oder zeitliche Abschätzung sind üblich. When assessing a person, abschätzen can mean to size up someone’s abilities or demeanor, though einschätzen is also used for evaluation.

Etymology: Abschätzen comes from ab- (away, down) and schätzen (to value, to estimate). The combination conveys making an approximate judgment rather than an exact calculation. The term has medieval and modern usage, with various technical senses in science, engineering and statistics.

Related terms include Schätzung (the act or result of estimating), Kostenabschätzung (cost estimation), and Grobschätzung (rough estimate). In English, abschätzen is typically translated as estimate or gauge, with nuances reflecting rough versus more deliberate assessment.