Updated on March 6, 2024
Anticipate is a powerful word that signifies the ability to expect or predict something before it happens. It's a concept that has been explored in literature, film, and philosophy, and is a crucial part of human cognition and behavior. Understanding how to anticipate can help us prepare for the future, manage risks, and make better decisions. Moreover, the word 'anticipate' holds cultural importance across the globe, making it a valuable addition to any linguist's vocabulary.
For those interested in language and culture, knowing the translation of 'anticipate' in different languages can provide unique insights into how different cultures approach this concept. For instance, in Spanish, 'anticipar' means not only to expect but also to prepare for something in advance. Meanwhile, in German, 'antizipieren' carries a sense of mental pre-emption, as if one is jumping ahead in their mind to consider future possibilities.
Below, you'll find a list of translations of 'anticipate' in various languages, along with interesting cultural and historical contexts associated with the word. Whether you're a language learner, a cultural enthusiast, or simply curious, this list is sure to inspire and inform.
Afrikaans | antisipeer | ||
The word "antisipeer" is derived from the Latin word "anticipatio", meaning "action of taking beforehand". | |||
Amharic | ይጠብቁ | ||
In Amharic, "ይጠብቁ" also means to expect or to prepare in advance. | |||
Hausa | yi tsammani | ||
'Yi tsammani' can also mean 'to have foreknowledge'. | |||
Igbo | na-atụ anya | ||
The Igbo term "na-atụ anya" is also used to express feelings of excitement, expectation, and curiosity. | |||
Malagasy | mialoha | ||
The word "mialoha" in Malagasy may also refer to a feeling of joy and contentment while waiting for something. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | kuyembekezera | ||
The word "kuyembekezera" in Nyanja (Chichewa) is derived from the verb "yembekeza" which means "to wait for" or "to expect". | |||
Shona | kutarisira | ||
The word "kutarisira" can also mean to "wait" or "expect". | |||
Somali | filo | ||
Filo can mean both "anticipate" and "await", and may be related "filan"" ("to think"). | |||
Sesotho | lebella | ||
The term 'lebella' is also used to refer to the act of expecting something to happen or to be ready for it beforehand. | |||
Swahili | tarajia | ||
The word "tarajia" can also mean "to expect", "to look forward to", or "to hope for" in Swahili. | |||
Xhosa | lindela | ||
The Xhosa word "lindela" can also mean "to wait" or "to expect". | |||
Yoruba | fokansi | ||
"Fokansi" also means "to see from afar" or "to await something from a distance" in Yoruba. | |||
Zulu | lindela | ||
The word "lindela" in Zulu is also used to describe the act of waiting or looking forward to something. | |||
Bambara | ka kɔn | ||
Ewe | kpɔ mɔ | ||
Kinyarwanda | iteganya | ||
Lingala | kokanisa liboso | ||
Luganda | okusuubira | ||
Sepedi | letela | ||
Twi (Akan) | bɔ mpɛmpɛn | ||
Arabic | توقع | ||
"توقع" also means "to expect" or "to look forward to". | |||
Hebrew | לְצַפּוֹת | ||
The verb לצפות also means 'to cover with a coating', such as paint or gold, and thus 'to glisten' or 'to shine'. | |||
Pashto | وړاندوینه کول | ||
In Pashto, the word "وړاندوینه کول" also carries the meaning of "to expect" or "to foresee." | |||
Arabic | توقع | ||
"توقع" also means "to expect" or "to look forward to". |
Albanian | parashikoj | ||
The word "parashikoj" derives from the Greek "paraskêptô", meaning "to prepare". | |||
Basque | aurrea hartu | ||
The Basque word "aurrea hartu" is literally "to seize the front". | |||
Catalan | anticipar-se | ||
"Anticipar-se" also means "to take precautions" in Catalan. | |||
Croatian | predvidjeti | ||
The Croatian word "predvidjeti" also means "to foresee" or "to predict". | |||
Danish | foregribe | ||
Foregribe comes from the Danish word "foregribe", which also means "to snatch ahead". | |||
Dutch | anticiperen | ||
In Dutch, the word "anticiperen" also carries the meaning of "to take something into account". | |||
English | anticipate | ||
The word "anticipate" derives from Latin and literally means "to take before". | |||
French | anticiper | ||
"Anticiper" vient du latin "anticipare", qui signifie "prendre à l'avance". | |||
Frisian | antisipearje | ||
It may also mean to receive, expect, or look forward to something. | |||
Galician | anticipar | ||
En Galician, "anticipar" también significa "estar preparado". | |||
German | erwarten | ||
The German word "erwarten" is derived from the Middle High German word "erwarten," which means "to wait for" or "to look forward to". | |||
Icelandic | sjá fyrir | ||
The Icelandic word "sjá fyrir" ('anticipate') also means 'to foretell' and 'to provide for'. | |||
Irish | réamh-mheas | ||
Italian | anticipare | ||
"Anticipare" in Italian can also mean "to foresee" or "to foretell". | |||
Luxembourgish | antizipéieren | ||
The verb "antizipéieren" comes from the French verb "anticiper" which derives from the Latin "ante" (= "before") and "capere" (= "to take"). | |||
Maltese | antiċipa | ||
The word "antiċipa" in Maltese comes from the Latin "anticipare," meaning "to take before" or "to expect." | |||
Norwegian | forutse | ||
The word "forutse" in Norwegian shares its root with the word "foretell" in English, both meaning "to know in advance". | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | antecipar | ||
In Portuguese, "antecipar" can also mean to "advance" or "bring forward". | |||
Scots Gaelic | dùil | ||
The word "dùil" comes from the proto-Celtic word "*dūlī-." This word may also have been the origin of the English word "dole," which originally meant a portion of land and later came to mean a handout to the poor. | |||
Spanish | prever | ||
Prever in Spanish also means 'to prevent' and comes from Latin 'praevidēre', meaning 'see beforehand'. | |||
Swedish | förutse | ||
The word "förutse" derives from the Old Norse word "fyrir-sjá," which means "to see in advance." | |||
Welsh | rhagweld | ||
The word "rhagweld" in Welsh is derived from the root "rhag" meaning "before" and "gwel" meaning "to see". |
Belarusian | прадбачыць | ||
The word "прадбачыць" originally meant "to foretell" or "to predict." | |||
Bosnian | predvidjeti | ||
"Predvidjeti" is a Slavic word composed by the root "vid" (see) and the prefix "pre" (before), hence the literal meaning of "seeing" or "perceiving" something before it happens. | |||
Bulgarian | предвиждайте | ||
The word "предвиждайте" can also mean "to foresee" or "to take into account". | |||
Czech | předvídat | ||
Czech "předvídat" derives from "vidět" (see), akin to German "vorhersehen" (to foresee). | |||
Estonian | ette näha | ||
"Ette näha" also literally means "to see ahead" in Estonian. | |||
Finnish | ennakoida | ||
The word "ennakoida" is also used to describe a situation where something is expected or foreseen. | |||
Hungarian | előre | ||
The Hungarian word "előre" also means "forward" and is related to the word "előrelátó" ("foresighted"). | |||
Latvian | paredzēt | ||
The word “paredzēt” in Latvian can also mean to provide or envisage something. | |||
Lithuanian | numatyti | ||
"Numatyti" is also the Lithuanian word for "presume," which comes from the Latin word "praesumere," meaning "to take before." | |||
Macedonian | предвиди | ||
"Предвиди" in Macedonian is derived from the Proto-Slavic *predъviděti, meaning "to see beforehand". | |||
Polish | przewidywać | ||
The Polish verb "przewidywać" originally meant "to foresee" or "to predict", and its root is the noun "widzieć" ("to see"). | |||
Romanian | anticipa | ||
The Romanian word "anticipa" originates from Latin "ante capere" meaning "to take beforehand". | |||
Russian | предвидеть | ||
The word "предвидеть" in Russian is derived from the Old Church Slavonic word "предви́дѣти", meaning "to foresee, to predict." | |||
Serbian | очекивати | ||
The word "очекивати" in Serbian comes from the Proto-Slavic word "очькати", meaning "to wait" or "to expect". | |||
Slovak | predvídať | ||
In addition to its primary meaning of "anticipate", "predvídať" can also mean "to provide for". | |||
Slovenian | predvideti | ||
The Slovenian word "predvideti" originates from the Proto-Slavic verb *prědъviděti, meaning "to see in advance" or "to foresee". | |||
Ukrainian | передбачати | ||
The word "передбачати" in Ukrainian also means "to suppose" or "to presume". |
Bengali | পূর্বানুমান | ||
"পূর্বানুমান" comes from the Sanskrit word "poorvanumana" which literally means "thinking before." | |||
Gujarati | અપેક્ષા | ||
Hindi | आशा | ||
The word "आशा" derives from Sanskrit and originally meant "desire" or "longing", indicating the emotional anticipation of an event or outcome. | |||
Kannada | ನಿರೀಕ್ಷಿಸಿ | ||
'ನಿರೀಕ್ಷಿಸಿ' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'nirīkṣa', which means 'to look at', 'to watch', or 'to observe'. | |||
Malayalam | പ്രതീക്ഷിക്കുക | ||
പ്രതീക്ഷിക്കുക (prateekshikkuka) derives from Sanskrit prati+iksha, meaning “looking forward” or “expecting.” | |||
Marathi | अपेक्षेने | ||
The Marathi word 'अपेक्षेने' can also mean 'expect', 'await', or 'predict'. | |||
Nepali | पूर्वानुमान | ||
पूर्वानुमान is derived from the Sanskrit root 'pūrva' meaning 'before' and 'anu' meaning 'after', hence it means both 'to anticipate' and 'to follow'. | |||
Punjabi | ਉਮੀਦ | ||
The word "ਉਮੀਦ" is derived from the Persian word "umid" which means "hope" or "expectation". | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | අපේක්ෂා කරන්න | ||
Tamil | எதிர்பார்க்கலாம் | ||
Telugu | ate హించండి | ||
The word "anticipate" comes from the Latin word "antecipatus," which means "to take beforehand." | |||
Urdu | متوقع | ||
The word 'متوقع' has two distinct origins and alternate meanings; the first being 'to suppose or predict' and the second being 'accepted' or 'allowed'. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 预料 | ||
"预料"由 "预" 和 "料" 组成,"预" 指先,"料" 指料想,引申为预先估计、料想 | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 預料 | ||
“預”在甲骨文中指“占卜”,“料”在甲骨文中指“占卜時所用的龜甲”,“預料”即“占卜後得知的結果” 。 | |||
Japanese | 予想する | ||
The verb '予想する' can also mean 'to forecast', 'to predict', or 'to estimate' in English. | |||
Korean | 앞질러 하다 | ||
The Korean word "앞질러 하다" literally translates to "to do in advance" or "to act ahead of time," capturing the essence of its English counterpart, "anticipate." | |||
Mongolian | урьдчилан таамаглах | ||
It is derived from "урьд" (before) and "чилан" (think, suppose). It can mean to expect, predict, or foretell something. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | မျှော်လင့်ထားသည် | ||
Indonesian | mengantisipasi | ||
Mengantisipasi comes from Dutch "anticipatie" and also means "foresight" | |||
Javanese | ngarepake | ||
In the Javanese language, the word "ngarepake" also means "to expect" or "to look forward to something." | |||
Khmer | គិតទុកជាមុន | ||
Lao | ຄາດລ່ວງ ໜ້າ | ||
Malay | menjangka | ||
The word "menjangka" is derived from the Old Malay word "jangka", which means "to expect" or "to predict". In modern Malay, the word "jangka" also has the meaning of "to measure" or "to estimate". | |||
Thai | คาดการณ์ | ||
The word "คาดการณ์" is of Sanskrit origin, deriving from the word "khadga", meaning "sword", and was originally used in Thai to describe the anticipation of an attack. | |||
Vietnamese | đoán trước | ||
The Vietnamese word "đoán trước" is similar in meaning to the English word "predict", and derives from the Chinese word "duan", which means "to guess" or "to infer." | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | asahan | ||
Azerbaijani | qabaqlamaq | ||
The word "qabaqlamaq" also means "to foresee" or "to predict". | |||
Kazakh | болжау | ||
The word "болжау" also means "to suspect" or "to expect". | |||
Kyrgyz | күтүү | ||
Күтүү (Kyrgyz) also means "to wait" and is derived from the Turkic root "küt-," meaning "to watch, wait, or observe." | |||
Tajik | пешбинӣ кардан | ||
From the word "peş" which means "front" or "head". | |||
Turkmen | garaşmak | ||
Uzbek | kutmoq | ||
In Uzbek, “kutmoq” can also mean "to wish" or "to expect". | |||
Uyghur | ئالدىن پەرەز قىلىڭ | ||
Hawaiian | e kakali | ||
The Hawaiian word "e kakali" can also mean "to wait for" or "to expect". | |||
Maori | tatari | ||
The word "tatari" can also refer to a sense of foreboding or unease. | |||
Samoan | faʻatalitali | ||
The word faʻatalitali also refers to a person's expectations and desires. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | asahan | ||
"Asahan" is also a Tagalog word that means "to expect," as in "I expect that he will come." |
Aymara | nayrst'ayaña | ||
Guarani | motenonde | ||
Esperanto | antaŭvidi | ||
The word "antaŭvidi" in Esperanto has the same root as "vision" in English, highlighting the idea of seeing something before it happens. | |||
Latin | praecipio | ||
The Latin word "praecipio" can also mean "to seize", "to capture", or "to command". |
Greek | προσδοκώ | ||
"προσδοκώ" also means to "await" in Modern Greek. | |||
Hmong | cia siab tias yuav tau | ||
The term "cia siab tias yuav tau" literally translates to "think in the heart that it will happen." | |||
Kurdish | payin | ||
The term "payin" originates from the Old Kurdish verb "payan," meaning "to expect" or "to await." | |||
Turkish | tahmin etmek | ||
"Tahmin etmek" is derived from the Arabic word "tahmīn," meaning "to guess" or "to estimate." | |||
Xhosa | lindela | ||
The Xhosa word "lindela" can also mean "to wait" or "to expect". | |||
Yiddish | ריכטנ זיך | ||
The Yiddish word "ריכטנ זיך" can also mean "to prepare" or "to get ready". | |||
Zulu | lindela | ||
The word "lindela" in Zulu is also used to describe the act of waiting or looking forward to something. | |||
Assamese | পূৰ্বানুমান | ||
Aymara | nayrst'ayaña | ||
Bhojpuri | पूर्वानुमान लगावल | ||
Dhivehi | އުންމީދުކުރުން | ||
Dogri | मेद करना | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | asahan | ||
Guarani | motenonde | ||
Ilocano | namnamaen | ||
Krio | wet fɔ | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | پێشبینی کردن | ||
Maithili | पहिने सँ कए रखनाइ | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯑꯣꯏꯊꯣꯛꯀꯅꯤ ꯍꯥꯏꯅ ꯊꯥꯖꯕ ꯊꯝꯕ | ||
Mizo | ringlawk | ||
Oromo | tilmaamuu | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ଆଶା କର | ||
Quechua | kamariy | ||
Sanskrit | आयासं | ||
Tatar | көтегез | ||
Tigrinya | ግምት | ||
Tsonga | langutela | ||