odhadnout

Odhadnout is a Czech verb meaning to estimate, to gauge, or to forecast something uncertain. It denotes forming an approximate assessment of quantity, value, duration, or likelihood. The act is typically treated as a completed instance (perfective) but can also be described as an ongoing or repeated activity when using the imperfective form odhadovat.

Etymology and morphology: The verb is built from the noun odhad, meaning an estimate or guess, with the prefix od-, which in Czech often marks a sense of completion or finalization. It is a transitive verb and forms its conjugation like other Czech -nout verbs. The perfective aspect focuses on the result of the estimation, while the imperfective odhadovat emphasizes the process of estimating.

Usage: It governs a direct object in the accusative, usually referring to a quantity, price, time, or risk. Examples include: “Odhadnul jsem cenu opravy na 20 000 korun.” (I estimated the repair price at 20,000 crowns.) “Můžete odhadnout, kdy to bude hotové?” (Can you estimate when it will be finished?) “Odhad nákladů vyšel na sedm milionů.” (The cost estimate came out to seven million.)

Common collocations and related forms: The noun odhad denotes the result of estimation. Phrases such as “orientační odhad” (approximate estimate), “přibližný odhad” (rough estimate), or “odhad rizika” (risk assessment) are frequently used. The imperfective counterpart odhadovat is used for describing the act of estimating rather than its completion, whereas odhadnout emphasizes the concluded estimate.