futuro

Futuro is a word used in Spanish and Portuguese to denote the time after the present. As a noun, it refers to that period and appears in phrases such as en el futuro or o futuro. As an adjective, it means “relating to what will happen” and agrees in gender and number, for example cambios futuros in Spanish and soluções futuras in Portuguese; the masculine singular is futuro and the feminine is futura.

Etymology and linguistic use: Futuro derives from the Latin futurus, the participle of esse “to be,” meaning “about to be.” It has cognates in other Romance languages, such as Italian futuro and French futur. In grammar, futuro also names the future tense in those languages (futuro do indicativo in Portuguese, futuro simple in Spanish).

Concepts and fields of study: The future encompasses the time yet to occur and is a central object of inquiry in philosophy, cosmology, and the social sciences. Debates address determinism versus indeterminism, chances and probabilities, and how current actions shape long‑term outcomes. Forecasting and planning use models, data, and scenarios to describe possible futures in areas like climate, economics, and technology.

Culture and practice: The future features prominently in science fiction, futurology, and futurism, where trajectories of technology and society are imagined and analyzed. In everyday use, the word supports discussions of upcoming events, planning, and expectations. While predictions aim to estimate what will happen, they remain contingent on complex and evolving factors.