Inklingo

How to Say "to anticipate" in Spanish

English → Spanish

anticipar

/an-tee-see-PAR//antiθiˈpaɾ/

verbB2general
Use 'anticipar' when you are predicting a specific need or action, often with the implication of taking proactive steps.
A person looking through a telescope at a bright star that is just beginning to appear over the horizon.

Examples

Nadie pudo anticipar la crisis económica.

Nobody could have foreseen the economic crisis.

El autor anticipa el final en el primer capítulo.

The author foreshadows/previews the ending in the first chapter.

Es bueno anticipar las necesidades de los clientes.

It is good to anticipate the customers' needs.

Anticipar vs. Esperar

'Esperar' is for waiting or hoping. 'Anticipar' is more active—it implies you are mentally preparing for something you see coming.

Using with results

When used with news or results, it means to give a hint or a summary before the official full report is out.

Literal Translation

Mistake: “Anticipo que va a llover.”

Correction: Preveo que va a llover. While 'anticipar' is okay, 'prever' is more common for weather or simple physical events.

prever

/pre-BER//pɾeˈβeɾ/

verbB1general
Use 'prever' when you are talking about expecting or predicting something in a more general sense, like the future or a possible outcome.
A hiker looking through binoculars at a distant rain cloud while holding an umbrella.

Examples

Es difícil prever el futuro.

It is difficult to foresee the future.

Nadie pudo prever lo que iba a pasar.

No one could anticipate what was going to happen.

El gobierno prevé un aumento de las temperaturas este verano.

The government anticipates a rise in temperatures this summer.

It follows the pattern of 'ver'

Think of this word as 'pre-' + 'ver' (to see). This means it conjugates exactly like 'ver'. If 'ver' becomes 'veo', 'prever' becomes 'preveo'.

The special past form

The past version (participle) of 'ver' is 'visto'. Naturally, the past version of 'prever' is 'previsto' (foreseen).

Don't add an extra 'e'

Mistake: “preever”

Correction: prever (only one 'e' after the 'r'). Many learners confuse this with 'proveer' (to provide), which does have two 'e's.

Wrong 'Yo' form

Mistake: “Yo prevé”

Correction: Yo preveo. Remember, since it's like 'ver', the 'yo' form must end in -veo.

Choosing Between Anticipar and Prever

Learners often confuse 'anticipar' and 'prever'. Remember that 'anticipar' is more about predicting a specific need or event to act upon, whereas 'prever' is a more general term for expecting or forecasting.

Related Translations

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