German word

prophezeien

Pronunciation

IPA/pʁofeˈtsaɪ̯ən/

Meaning

  • verbprophesy

Example

Viele Leute prophezeien eine bessere Zukunft.

Many people prophesy a better future.

Illustration for prophezeien (prophesy)

More examples

Wahrsager prophezeien den Menschen oft ein glückliches Ende.

Fortune-tellers often prophesy a happy ending for people.

Core concept

A speaker points toward the future with a prophet's authority, presenting a forecast as a certain revelation.

Common phrases

  • jemandem die Zukunft prophezeien

    prophesy someone's future

  • ein glückliches Ende prophezeien

    prophesy a happy ending

Similar words

vorhersagen: To predict future events based on experience, evidence, or data.
vermuten: To consider something possible when firm evidence is lacking.
vorhersehen: To foresee what will happen from circumstances or available information.
ahnen: To have a vague feeling that something will happen.

Definition in German

feierlich oder bestimmt von zukünftigen Ereignissen sprechen und sie als sicher darstellen

Word origin

German prophezeien derives from Middle High German prophezīen, which was borrowed from Latin prophetizare, a verb formed from propheta, 'prophet'.

Usage tips

  • Prophezeien sounds solemn or dramatic rather than neutral, so ordinary forecasts usually use vorhersagen or prognostizieren.

Other meanings

  • predictverb

Related words

  • Prophezeiungprophecynoun

Word lists with this word