This page in your language

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Español

Français

日本語

한국어

Português

中文

हिन्दी

Home
Learn
Arabic
Vocabulary
تَنَبُّؤ

B2 noun #6,000 most common 5 min read

تَنَبُّؤ

tanabbu' Top 6,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips تَنَبُّؤ in 30 Seconds

Explanation تَنَبُّؤ in your Level:

In A1, you don't really need the word 'Tanabbu'. You would just say 'I think' (Ana azun) or 'Maybe' (Mumkin). However, you might see it on a weather app on your phone. Just know that it means 'what will happen tomorrow.' It's like a scientific guess about the weather or the news. Think of it as a big word for 'forecast.'

At the A2 level, you can start recognizing 'Tanabbu' in weather reports. You might hear 'Tanabbu'at al-jaw' (weather predictions). It is a noun. You use it when you want to talk about the future in a slightly more formal way than just saying 'tomorrow.' It's helpful for reading short news snippets about the climate or simple economic news.

By B1, you should be able to use 'Tanabbu' in sentences about your studies or the news. You understand that it's a 'prediction' based on something, not just a random guess. You can say 'My prediction for the match is...' using 'Tanabbu'i lil-mubarah...'. You are starting to see the connection between this word and the root for 'news' (naba').

At B2, 'Tanabbu' is a key vocabulary item. You should use it in academic essays and formal discussions. You understand the difference between 'Tanabbu' (scientific prediction) and 'Tawaqqu' (general expectation). you can use it with prepositions correctly, like 'at-tanabbu' bi-natā'ij' (predicting the results). You also recognize the plural 'Tanabbu'at' in complex texts.

For C1 learners, 'Tanabbu' is part of your professional lexicon. You use it to discuss 'predictive modeling' in tech or 'economic forecasting.' You are aware of its rhetorical weight—how using this word instead of 'guess' makes an argument sound more authoritative. You can also identify its use in literature to describe a character's foresight.

At the C2 level, you master the nuances between 'Tanabbu', 'Istishraf', and 'Firasah'. You can discuss the etymological roots and how the word has evolved from a semi-religious context to a purely secular, statistical one. You use it effortlessly in high-level debates about geopolitics and the future of humanity.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

تَنَبُّؤ in 30 Seconds

Tanabbu' means 'prediction' or 'forecast' in Arabic, used for future events based on data.
It comes from the root N-B-A, meaning news or information, and is formal in register.
Commonly used in weather reports, economics, and scientific research to describe logical projections.
Distinct from 'Tawaqqu' (expectation) and 'Hads' (intuition) due to its analytical and evidence-based nature.

The Arabic word تَنَبُّؤ (Tanabbu') is a sophisticated noun that translates primarily to 'prediction' or 'forecast.' It is derived from the root ن-ب-أ (N-B-'), which is intrinsically linked to the concept of news, information, and even prophecy. However, in modern Standard Arabic (MSA), تَنَبُّؤ has moved away from the mystical or divine and firmly established itself in the realms of science, logic, and data analysis. When you use this word, you are usually referring to a statement about the future that is grounded in some form of evidence, whether that be meteorological data, economic trends, or historical patterns. It is a word that carries weight and implies a level of intellectual effort or systematic calculation. Understanding this word is essential for anyone looking to engage with Arabic media, scientific literature, or professional discourse.

Scientific Context: In laboratory settings or academic papers, this word refers to the hypothesis regarding the outcome of an experiment based on existing theories. It is the 'prediction' phase of the scientific method.
Meteorological Context: This is perhaps the most common daily use. The term التنبؤات الجوية (weather forecasts) is a staple of every news broadcast, referring to the calculated estimation of climate conditions.
Economic and Financial Context: Financial analysts use تَنَبُّؤ to describe market trends, stock price movements, and inflation rates based on current fiscal indicators.

يَصْعُبُ الـتَنَبُّؤ بِمَوْعِدِ الزِّلْزَالِ بِدِقَّةٍ كَامِلَةٍ.
(It is difficult to predict the timing of an earthquake with complete accuracy.)

The nuance of تَنَبُّؤ lies in its systematic nature. While a 'guess' (تخمين) might be random, a تَنَبُّؤ suggests that someone has looked at the clouds, the charts, or the numbers before speaking. It is the bridge between the known present and the unknown future. In the age of Artificial Intelligence and Big Data, this word has seen a resurgence in technical Arabic, often appearing in phrases like التنبؤ الآلي (automated/machine prediction) or النماذج التنبؤية (predictive models).

هَلْ لَدَيْكَ تَنَبُّؤ لِنَتِيجَةِ الِانْتِخَابَاتِ؟
(Do you have a prediction for the election results?)

Culturally, the Arab world has a long history of astronomy and mathematics, fields where 'prediction' was vital for navigation and agriculture. Modern Arabic speakers use this word to navigate the complexities of a fast-changing world, whether discussing the climate crisis or the next big tech innovation. It reflects a mindset of preparation and foresight.

Using تَنَبُّؤ correctly requires understanding its role as a verbal noun (Masdar). It can function as the subject of a sentence, an object, or part of an Idafa (possessive) construction. Because it is a process-oriented word, it often pairs with verbs like 'to be difficult' (يَصْعُب), 'to be possible' (يُمْكِن), or 'to fail' (فَشِلَ).

As a Subject: التنبؤُ الصَّحِيحُ يَتَطَلَّبُ بَيَانَاتٍ دَقِيقَةً. (Correct prediction requires accurate data.) Here, the word is the focus of the statement.
In an Idafa Construction: أَظْهَرَتْ تَنَبُّؤَاتُ الأَرْصَادِ عَصِفَةً قَادِمَةً. (The weather forecasts showed a coming storm.) Note how the plural تَنَبُّؤَات is used here.

كَانَ تَنَبُّؤُ الخَبِيرِ فِي مَحَلِّهِ تَمَاماً.
(The expert's prediction was perfectly spot on.)

When constructing sentences with تَنَبُّؤ, remember that it is often followed by the preposition بـِ (bi-) to indicate what is being predicted. For example, 'prediction of the future' is تَنَبُّؤٌ بِالْمُسْتَقْبَلِ. This prepositional link is crucial for grammatical accuracy in higher-level writing.

لَا نَسْتَطِيعُ الِاعْتِمَادَ عَلَى تَنَبُّؤَاتٍ غَيْرِ مَبْنِيَّةٍ عَلَى عِلْمٍ.
(We cannot rely on predictions not built on science.)

In the daily life of an Arabic speaker, تَنَبُّؤ is a word of the 'public sphere.' You are unlikely to hear it in a casual conversation about what to eat for dinner, but you will hear it constantly in the following environments:

News Channels (Al Jazeera, Al Arabiya): During the segment النشرة الجوية, the anchor will say 'تنبؤاتنا لليوم...' (Our predictions for today...).
Business Reports: When discussing the price of oil or the value of the Dirham or Riyal, analysts use تنبؤات السوق (market predictions).
Documentaries: Especially those concerning climate change or space exploration, where scientists discuss future scenarios.
University Lectures: In fields like statistics, sociology, and economics, where 'predictive power' (القدرة التنبؤية) is a key concept.

تُشِيرُ تَنَبُّؤَاتُ النُّمُوِّ الِاقْتِصَادِيِّ إِلَى تَحَسُّنٍ مَلْحُوظٍ.
(Economic growth predictions indicate a noticeable improvement.)

The word carries an air of authority. If a politician uses it, they are trying to sound data-driven. If a scientist uses it, they are being precise. In literature, it might be used metaphorically to describe a character's foresight or 'feeling' about what is to come, though حدس (intuition) is more common for personal feelings.

Because تَنَبُّؤ is a B2-level word, learners often confuse it with similar-sounding or similar-meaning words. Here are the most frequent pitfalls:

Confusing with 'Tawaqqu'' (توقع): While often used interchangeably, توقع is more like 'expectation.' You 'expect' a guest to arrive, but you 'predict' (تنبؤ) the path of a hurricane. تَنَبُّؤ is more formal and data-heavy.
Spelling Errors (The Hamza): The Hamza at the end of تَنَبُّؤ sits on a 'Waw' because it is preceded by a Damma. Learners often mistakenly put it on the line or on an 'Alif'.
Confusing with 'Tanbih' (تنبيه): تنبيه means 'warning' or 'alert.' While a prediction might lead to a warning, they are not the same thing.

خَطَأ: هَذَا تَنَبُّؤ لِلْخَطَرِ. (صَح: هَذَا تَنْبِيهٌ لِلْخَطَرِ)
(Wrong: This is a prediction of danger. Right: This is a warning of danger - if referring to an alarm.)

Arabic is rich with synonyms for 'future-telling,' each with its own specific flavor. Choosing the right one depends on whether you are talking about science, magic, or gut feelings.

تَوَقُّع (Tawaqqu'): Comparison: More common in everyday speech. 'I expect it will rain.' تَنَبُّؤ is 'I predict, based on the barometer, it will rain.'
حَدْس (Hads): Comparison: This is 'intuition' or 'gut feeling.' It is internal and subjective, whereas تَنَبُّؤ is external and objective.
اسْتِشْرَاف (Istishraf): Comparison: Very formal. Used in 'Foresight' or 'Future Studies.' It implies looking out from a high vantage point to see what is coming far off.

يَسْتَخْدِمُ العُلَمَاءُ التَّنَبُّؤَ، بَيْنَمَا يَعْتَمِدُ الشُّعَرَاءُ عَلَى الحَدْسِ.
(Scientists use prediction, while poets rely on intuition.)

How Formal Is It?

Formal

"تُشِيرُ التَّنَبُّؤَاتُ الإِحْصَائِيَّةُ إِلَى تَرَاجُعِ التَّضَخُّمِ."

Neutral

"مَا هُوَ تَنَبُّؤُكَ لِمُبَارَاةِ اليَوْمِ؟"

Informal

"تَنَبُّؤَاتُكَ دَائِماً غَلَط!"

Child friendly

"هَلْ تَعْرِفُ كَيْفَ نَتَنَبَّأُ بِالمَطَرِ؟"

Slang

"فَكَّنَا مِنْ تَنَبُّؤَاتَكَ!"

Fun Fact

The word for 'Prophet' (Nabi) comes from this same root because a prophet 'brings news' from God. 'Tanabbu' is the modern secular evolution of this concept.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /tæˈnæb.buː/

US /təˈnæb.buː/

The stress is on the second syllable 'nab'.

Rhymes With

تَهَيُّؤ (tahayyu' - preparation) تَبَوُّؤ (tabawwu' - occupying a position) تَقَيُّؤ (taqayyu' - vomiting) تَلَوُّؤ (talawwu' - twisting) تَبَرُّؤ (tabarru' - disassociating) تَجَرُّؤ (tajarru' - daring) تَبَاطُؤ (tabatu' - slowing down) تَكَافُؤ (takafu' - parity)

Common Errors

Pronouncing the final Hamza as a long 'oo' without the glottal catch.
Ignoring the Shadda on the 'b', making it sound like 'tanabu'.
Confusing the initial 't' with a heavy 'T' (Ta).

Difficulty Rating

Reading 4/5

Requires knowledge of Hamza rules and Shadda.

Writing 5/5

The final Hamza on Waw is tricky for many learners.

Speaking 3/5

Easy to say if the Shadda is respected.

Listening 4/5

Can be confused with 'Tawaqqu' in fast speech.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

نَبَأ مُسْتَقْبَل عِلْم بَيَانَات تَوَقُّع

Learn Next

اسْتِشْرَاف حَتْمِيَّة احْتِمَالِيَّة مَنْهَجِيَّة تَحْلِيل

Advanced

الِاسْتِقْرَاء الِاسْتِنْتَاج الخُوَارِزْمِيَّات الرُّؤْيَةُ الِاسْتِرَاتِيجِيَّة

Grammar to Know

Masdar of Form V

تَفَعُّل -> تَنَبُّؤ. The pattern involves a prefix 'ta-' and a shadda on the middle radical.

Final Hamza on Waw

If the letter before the final Hamza has a Damma, the Hamza is written on a Waw (ؤ).

Preposition 'Bi'

The verb 'Tanabba'a' and its noun 'Tanabbu' usually take the preposition 'bi' (بـ) for the object of prediction.

Definite Article with Sun/Moon Letters

In 'At-Tanabbu', the 'T' is a sun letter, so the 'L' is assimilated: At-Tanabbu.

Feminine Sound Plural

Masdars of non-Form I verbs often take the '-at' ending for plural: تَنَبُّؤَات.

Examples by Level

هَذَا تَنَبُّؤُ الجَوْ.

This is the weather forecast.

Simple nominal sentence.

التَّنَبُّؤُ صَعْبٌ.

The prediction is difficult.

Subject and predicate.

أُرِيدُ تَنَبُّؤاً لِلْيَوْمِ.

I want a prediction for today.

Object of the verb 'want'.

هَلْ هَذَا تَنَبُّؤٌ؟

Is this a prediction?

Interrogative sentence.

تَنَبُّؤُكَ جَمِيلٌ.

Your prediction is nice.

Possessive suffix attached to the noun.

لَا أَفْهَمُ هَذَا التَّنَبُّؤَ.

I don't understand this prediction.

Negated verb with a definite object.

التَّنَبُّؤُ فِي التِّلِفِزْيُونِ.

The prediction is on TV.

Prepositional phrase as predicate.

شُكْراً عَلَى التَّنَبُّؤِ.

Thanks for the prediction.

Noun after a preposition.

التَّنَبُّؤَاتُ الجَوِّيَّةُ مُهِمَّةٌ لِلْمُزَارِعِ.

Weather predictions are important for the farmer.

Plural noun with an adjective.

يَقْرَأُ أَحْمَدُ تَنَبُّؤَاتِ الأَبْرَاجِ.

Ahmed reads horoscope predictions.

Idafa construction.

هَذَا التَّنَبُّؤُ لَيْسَ صَحِيحاً.

This prediction is not correct.

Negation using 'laysa'.

نَسْمَعُ التَّنَبُّؤَ كُلَّ صَبَاحٍ.

We hear the forecast every morning.

Present tense verb with object.

التَّنَبُّؤُ بِالْمُسْتَقْبَلِ مُسْتَحِيلٌ.

Predicting the future is impossible.

Masdar followed by a prepositional phrase.

هَلْ تَثِقُ فِي هَذَا التَّنَبُّؤِ؟

Do you trust this prediction?

Verb 'trust' followed by 'fi'.

قَدَّمَ العَالِمُ تَنَبُّؤاً جَدِيداً.

The scientist presented a new prediction.

Past tense verb with indefinite object.

التَّنَبُّؤَاتُ كَانَتْ خَاطِئَةً.

The predictions were wrong.

Plural subject with 'kana'.

يَعْتَمِدُ الِاقْتِصَادُ عَلَى تَنَبُّؤَاتِ السُّوقِ.

The economy relies on market predictions.

Verb 'rely' with 'ala'.

فَشِلَ التَّنَبُّؤُ بِانْخِفَاضِ الأَسْعَارِ.

The prediction of falling prices failed.

Subject of the verb 'failed'.

يُحَاوِلُ البَاحِثُونَ التَّنَبُّؤَ بِسُلُوكِ الحَيَوَانَاتِ.

Researchers try to predict animal behavior.

Masdar as the object of 'try'.

هَذِهِ التَّنَبُّؤَاتُ مَبْنِيَّةٌ عَلَى أَرْقَامٍ قَدِيمَةٍ.

These predictions are based on old numbers.

Passive participle 'mabniyya' following the noun.

لَدَيْنَا تَنَبُّؤٌ دَقِيقٌ لِحَرَكَةِ المُرُورِ.

We have an accurate prediction for traffic movement.

Noun-adjective agreement.

التَّنَبُّؤُ بِالنَّجَاحِ لَيْسَ ضَمَاناً لَهُ.

Predicting success is not a guarantee for it.

Complex nominal sentence.

كُلُّ تَنَبُّؤٍ يَحْتَمِلُ الصَّوَابَ وَالخَطَأَ.

Every prediction can be right or wrong.

Use of 'kull' followed by indefinite singular.

تَحَسَّنَتْ تِقْنِيَّاتُ التَّنَبُّؤِ فِي السَّنَوَاتِ الأَخِيرَةِ.

Prediction techniques have improved in recent years.

Idafa with plural 'techniques'.

يَتَطَلَّبُ التَّنَبُّؤُ العِلْمِيُّ مَنْهَجِيَّةً صَارِمَةً.

Scientific prediction requires a strict methodology.

Formal academic structure.

أَثَارَ تَنَبُّؤُهُ بِالأَزْمَةِ جَدَلًا وَاسِعاً.

His prediction of the crisis sparked wide controversy.

Verb-subject-object with 'sparked'.

لَا يُمْكِنُ الجَزْمُ بِصِحَّةِ هَذَا التَّنَبُّؤِ حَالِيّاً.

The correctness of this prediction cannot be confirmed currently.

Impersonal construction 'la yumkin'.

تَسْعَى الشَّرِكَاتُ إِلَى تَعْزِيزِ قُدْرَتِهَا التَّنَبُّؤِيَّةِ.

Companies seek to enhance their predictive capability.

Adjective derived from the noun (nisba).

يُعَدُّ التَّنَبُّؤُ بِالزَّلَازِلِ تَحَدِّياً كَبِيراً لِلْعُلَمَاءِ.

Predicting earthquakes is considered a great challenge for scientists.

Passive verb 'yu'ad' (is considered).

جَاءَ التَّنَبُّؤُ مُخَالِفاً لِكُلِّ التَّوَقُّعَاتِ.

The prediction came contrary to all expectations.

Adverbial use of 'mukhalifan'.

تَعْتَمِدُ النَّمَاذِجُ المُنَاخِيَّةُ عَلَى التَّنَبُّؤِ الإِحْصَائِيِّ.

Climate models rely on statistical prediction.

Technical terminology.

كَانَ التَّنَبُّؤُ بِسُقُوطِ النِّظَامِ وَاشِكاً.

The prediction of the regime's fall was imminent.

Use of 'washik' (imminent).

تَتَجَاوَزُ هَذِهِ الدِّرَاسَةُ مُجَرَّدَ التَّنَبُّؤِ لِتَصِلَ إِلَى التَّحْلِيلِ العَمِيقِ.

This study goes beyond mere prediction to reach deep analysis.

Sophisticated 'beyond' construction.

إنَّ التَّنَبُّؤَ بِالظَّوَاهِرِ الِاجْتِمَاعِيَّةِ أَمْرٌ شَائِكٌ لِلْغَايَةِ.

Predicting social phenomena is an extremely thorny matter.

Use of 'inna' for emphasis.

يُرَاهِنُ المَسْؤُولُونَ عَلَى دِقَّةِ التَّنَبُّؤَاتِ الخَارِجِيَّةِ.

Officials are betting on the accuracy of external predictions.

Metaphorical use of 'betting' (yurahin).

يَبْقَى التَّنَبُّؤُ مُجَرَّدَ فَرْضِيَّةٍ مَا لَمْ يَتِمَّ إِثْبَاتُهُ.

Prediction remains a mere hypothesis unless it is proven.

Conditional 'ma lam' construction.

تُوَاجِهُ النَّمَاذِجُ التَّنَبُّؤِيَّةُ صُعُوبَاتٍ فِي ظِلِّ التَّقَلُّبَاتِ السِّيَاسِيَّةِ.

Predictive models face difficulties in light of political fluctuations.

Complex 'in light of' phrase.

لَيْسَ التَّنَبُّؤُ رَجْماً بِالغَيْبِ بَلْ هُوَ عِلْمٌ قَائِمٌ بِذَاتِهِ.

Prediction is not a shot in the dark, but a science in its own right.

Contrastive 'laysa... bal' structure.

أَدَّى التَّنَبُّؤُ الخَاطِئُ إِلَى كَارِثَةٍ بِيئِيَّةٍ.

The faulty prediction led to an environmental disaster.

Causal 'adda ila' structure.

يَنْبَغِي الحَذَرُ عِنْدَ صِيَاغَةِ التَّنَبُّؤَاتِ طَوِيلَةِ المَدَى.

Caution should be exercised when formulating long-term predictions.

Impersonal 'yanbaghi' with Masdar.

يَتَأَرْجَحُ مَفْهُومُ التَّنَبُّؤِ بَيْنَ الحَتْمِيَّةِ العِلْمِيَّةِ وَالِاحْتِمَالِيَّةِ.

The concept of prediction oscillates between scientific determinism and probability.

Philosophical terminology.

إنَّ الِاسْتِغْرَاقَ فِي التَّنَبُّؤِ قَدْ يَحْجِبُ عَنَّا بَصِيرَةَ الوَاقِعِ.

Indulging in prediction might obscure our insight into reality.

Abstract metaphorical language.

تَضَاءَلَتْ المِصْدَاقِيَّةُ التَّنَبُّؤِيَّةُ لِلنَّظَرِيَّاتِ الكِلَاسِيكِيَّةِ.

The predictive credibility of classical theories has diminished.

Advanced vocabulary (credibility/diminished).

يُعِيدُ الذَّكَاءُ الِاصْطِنَاعِيُّ صِيَاغَةَ قَوَاعِدِ التَّنَبُّؤِ البَشَرِيِّ.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the rules of human prediction.

Modern complex subject.

ثَمَّةَ هُوَّةٌ سَحِيقَةٌ بَيْنَ التَّنَبُّؤِ النَّظَرِيِّ وَالتَّطْبِيقِ العَمَلِيِّ.

There is a vast chasm between theoretical prediction and practical application.

Use of 'thammata' (there is).

لَا يَعْدُو التَّنَبُّؤُ أَنْ يَكُونَ مَحَاوَلَةً لِتَرْوِيضِ المَجْهُولِ.

Prediction is nothing more than an attempt to domesticate the unknown.

Restrictive 'la ya'du an' structure.

تَقْتَرِنُ نَجَاعَةُ التَّنَبُّؤِ بِقُدْرَةِ النِّظَامِ عَلَى اسْتِيعَابِ المُتَغَيِّرَاتِ.

The efficacy of prediction is coupled with the system's ability to absorb variables.

High-level 'coupled with' construction.

أَضْحَى التَّنَبُّؤُ بِالسُّلُوكِ البَشَرِيِّ مَطْمَعاً لِلشَّرِكَاتِ الكُبْرَى.

Predicting human behavior has become an ambition for major corporations.

Use of 'adha' (to become).

Synonyms

تَوَقُّع تَكَهُّن رَجْم اسْتِشْرَاف

Antonyms

تَذَكُّر مَعْرِفَةُ المَاضِي

Common Collocations

تَنَبُّؤٌ جَوِّيٌّ

تَنَبُّؤٌ دَقِيقٌ

تَنَبُّؤَاتٌ اقْتِصَادِيَّةٌ

صُعُوبَةُ التَّنَبُّؤِ

نَمُوذَجٌ تَنَبُّؤِيٌّ

قُدْرَةٌ تَنَبُّؤِيَّةٌ

فَشَلُ التَّنَبُّؤِ

تَنَبُّؤٌ طَوِيلُ المَدَى

تَنَبُّؤَاتُ الأَرْصَادِ

تَنَبُّؤٌ مُبَكِّرٌ

Common Phrases

بِنَاءً عَلَى تَنَبُّؤَاتٍ

— Based on predictions. Used to justify an action.

اتَّخَذْنَا القَرَارَ بِنَاءً عَلَى تَنَبُّؤَاتِ السُّوقِ.

خِلَافاً لِلتَّنَبُّؤَاتِ

— Contrary to predictions. Used when a surprise occurs.

جَاءَتِ النَّتِيجَةُ خِلَافاً لِلتَّنَبُّؤَاتِ.

مُجَرَّدُ تَنَبُّؤٍ

— Just a prediction. Used to downplay certainty.

لَا تَقْلَقْ، هَذَا مُجَرَّدُ تَنَبُّؤٍ.

دِقَّةُ التَّنَبُّؤِ

— Prediction accuracy. Used in scientific evaluation.

نَسْعَى لِتَحْسِينِ دِقَّةِ التَّنَبُّؤِ.

تَنَبُّؤٌ مَبْنِيٌّ عَلَى العِلْمِ

— A science-based prediction. Used to add authority.

نَحْنُ نُقَدِّمُ تَنَبُّؤاً مَبْنِيّاً عَلَى العِلْمِ.

تَنَبُّؤَاتُ المُسْتَقْبَلِ

— Future predictions. A general term.

تَنَبُّؤَاتُ المُسْتَقْبَلِ دَائِماً مُثِيرَةٌ.

صِحَّةُ التَّنَبُّؤِ

— The validity of a prediction.

أَثْبَتَتِ الأَيَّامُ صِحَّةَ التَّنَبُّؤِ.

تَنَبُّؤٌ خَاطِئٌ

— A wrong prediction.

كَانَ تَنَبُّؤُكَ خَاطِئاً هَذِهِ المَرَّةَ.

تَنَبُّؤٌ بَاهِرٌ

— A brilliant or amazing prediction.

قَدَّمَ المُحَلِّلُ تَنَبُّؤاً بَاهِراً.

سُوقُ التَّنَبُّؤَاتِ

— Prediction market. A specific financial term.

يَنْمُو سُوقُ التَّنَبُّؤَاتِ بِسُرْعَةٍ.

Often Confused With

تَنَبُّؤ vs تَوَقُّع

Tawaqqu' is more general expectation; Tanabbu' is more analytical/scientific forecast.

تَنَبُّؤ vs تَنْبِيه

Tanbih is a warning or alert; Tanabbu' is a prediction of what will happen.

تَنَبُّؤ vs تَخْمِين

Takhmin is a guess or estimation; Tanabbu' implies a basis in data.

Idioms & Expressions

"رَجْمٌ بِالغَيْبِ"

— Guessing the unseen/shooting in the dark. Often used to criticize baseless predictions.

كَانَ كَلَامُهُ مُجَرَّدَ رَجْمٍ بِالغَيْبِ.

Literary/Common

"قَرَأَ مَا بَيْنَ السُّطُورِ"

— To read between the lines. Predicting intent not explicitly stated.

تَنَبَّأَ بِمَوْقِفِهِمْ بَعْدَ أَنْ قَرَأَ مَا بَيْنَ السُّطُورِ.

Neutral

"رُؤْيَةُ مَا لَا يُرَى"

— Seeing the unseen. Used for visionary predictions.

لَدَيْهِ قُدْرَةٌ عَلَى رُؤْيَةِ مَا لَا يُرَى فِي السِّيَاسَةِ.

Poetic

"ضَرْبٌ مِنَ الخَيَالِ"

— A stroke of imagination. Used for wild, unbelievable predictions.

تَنَبُّؤُهُ بِسُكْنَى المِرِّيخِ ضَرْبٌ مِنَ الخَيَالِ.

Neutral

"فِي كَفِّ القَدَرِ"

— In the hand of fate. Used when prediction is impossible.

النَّتِيجَةُ الآنَ فِي كَفِّ القَدَرِ.

Poetic

"سَبَقَ عَصْرَهُ"

— Ahead of his time. Used for someone whose predictions were too advanced.

كَانَ تَنَبُّؤُهُ سَابِقاً لِعَصْرِهِ.

Neutral

"كَأَنَّهُ يَرَى المَنْظَرَ"

— As if he sees the scene. Used for very vivid and accurate predictions.

وَصَفَ المَعْرَكَةَ قَبْلَ وُقُوعِهَا كَأَنَّهُ يَرَى المَنْظَرَ.

Literary

"لَا يَعْلَمُ الغَيْبَ إِلَّا الله"

— Only God knows the unseen. A common religious phrase used to humble human predictions.

نَحْنُ نَتَنَبَّأُ، وَلَكِنْ لَا يَعْلَمُ الغَيْبَ إِلَّا الله.

Religious/Common

"تَنَبُّؤٌ يَصْدُقُ"

— A prediction that comes true/is truthful.

هَذَا تَنَبُّؤٌ يَصْدُقُ مَعَ مُرُورِ الوَقْتِ.

Neutral

"تَنَبُّؤٌ لَا يَخِيبُ"

— A prediction that never fails.

تَنَبُّؤَاتُ هَذَا العَالِمِ لَا تَخِيبُ أَبَداً.

Formal

Easily Confused

تَنَبُّؤ vs نُبُوءَة

Same root.

Nubu'ah is a religious prophecy; Tanabbu' is a secular prediction.

النُّبُوءَةُ دِينِيَّةٌ، أَمَّا التَّنَبُّؤُ فَهُوَ عِلْمِيٌّ.

تَنَبُّؤ vs تَنْبِيه

Similar sound.

Tanbih means 'alert' or 'notification'.

وَصَلَنِي تَنْبِيهٌ عَلَى الهَاتِفِ.

تَنَبُّؤ vs تَبَوُّؤ

Similar pattern and Hamza.

Tabawwu' means 'occupying' (a position or rank).

تَبَوُّؤُ مَنْصِبٍ عَالٍ.

تَنَبُّؤ vs تَهَيُّؤ

Similar pattern.

Tahayyu' means 'getting ready' or 'preparation'.

التَّهَيُّؤُ لِلسَّفَرِ.

تَنَبُّؤ vs تَوَقُّع

Same meaning in English.

Tawaqqu' can be personal; Tanabbu' is usually objective.

أَتَوَقَّعُ خَيْراً.

Sentence Patterns

هَذَا تَنَبُّؤُ [اسم]

هَذَا تَنَبُّؤُ الطَّقْسِ.

يَصْعُبُ التَّنَبُّؤُ بِـ [اسم]

يَصْعُبُ التَّنَبُّؤُ بِالنَّتِيجَةِ.

تُشِيرُ التَّنَبُّؤَاتُ إِلَى [جملة]

تُشِيرُ التَّنَبُّؤَاتُ إِلَى أَنَّ الأَسْعَارَ سَتَرْتَفِعُ.

بِنَاءً عَلَى تَنَبُّؤَاتِ [اسم]

بِنَاءً عَلَى تَنَبُّؤَاتِ الخُبَرَاءِ.

لَا يَعْدُو التَّنَبُّؤُ أَنْ يَكُونَ [اسم/صفة]

لَا يَعْدُو التَّنَبُّؤُ أَنْ يَكُونَ فَرْضِيَّةً.

رَغْمَ دِقَّةِ التَّنَبُّؤِ، إِلَّا أَنَّ...

رَغْمَ دِقَّةِ التَّنَبُّؤِ، إِلَّا أَنَّ المَفَاجَآتِ حَدَثَتْ.

تَقْتَرِنُ مِصْدَاقِيَّةُ التَّنَبُّؤِ بِـ [اسم]

تَقْتَرِنُ مِصْدَاقِيَّةُ التَّنَبُّؤِ بِمَتَانَةِ البَيَانَاتِ.

يَبْقَى التَّنَبُّؤُ رَهِيناً بِـ [اسم]

يَبْقَى التَّنَبُّؤُ رَهِيناً بِتَطَوُّرِ التِّكْنُولُوجِيَا.

Word Family

Nouns

نَبَأ News/Tidings

نَبِيّ Prophet

نُبُوءَة Prophecy

مُنَبِّئ Forecaster/Informer

Verbs

تَنَبَّأَ To predict/To forecast

أَنْبَأَ To inform/To notify

نَبَّأَ To tell/To give news

Adjectives

تَنَبُّؤِيّ Predictive

مُنْبِئ Indicative/Telling

How to Use It

frequency

High in media and science; medium in daily life.

Common Mistakes

تنبأ بالطقس (as a noun) → التنبؤ بالطقس
Don't confuse the verb 'Tanabba'a' with the noun 'Tanabbu'.
تنبؤات دينية → نبوءات دينية
Use 'Nubu'at' for religious contexts.
التنبؤ أَنَّ → التنبؤ بِأَنَّ
Always include the 'bi' before 'an' or a noun.
تنبأ على → تنبأ بـ
The correct preposition is 'bi', not 'ala'.
تنبؤ بدون واو → تَنَبُّؤ
Spelling the final Hamza on the line is a common mistake.

Tips

Master the Hamza

Remember: Damma before Hamza means Hamza on Waw. Ta-na-b-bu-' (ؤ).

Weather is Key

The best way to remember this word is to check the 'Tanabbu'at' on an Arabic weather site daily.

Root Link

Link it to 'Nabi' (Prophet) to remember it's about knowing the future, but keep it secular.

Use with 'Bi'

Always pair it with 'bi' when you want to say 'prediction OF'. It makes your Arabic sound authentic.

Tanabbu' vs. Tawaqqu'

Use Tanabbu' for charts and science; use Tawaqqu' for feelings and people.

The Shadda

Don't rush the 'b'. Give it that extra beat. Tanab-bu'.

News Anchor Style

Listen to how news anchors say it. They often elongate the 'u' sound slightly at the end.

Identify Patterns

Look for the 'ta- - -u' pattern. It usually indicates a process noun in Arabic.

News-But-Upcoming

N-B-U: News But Upcoming. Tanabbu'.

Predictive Models

In tech essays, use 'An-Namadhij at-Tanabbu'iyya' to sound like a native expert.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Tanabbu' as 'To Know (the) News (of the) Future'. The 'N-B' in the middle is like 'News'.

Visual Association

Imagine a weather forecaster (Munabbi') pointing at a map of tomorrow. The map represents the 'Tanabbu'.

Word Web

Weather Future Data Science Logic Forecasting Accuracy Trends

Challenge

Try to find the 'Tanabbu' section in an Arabic newspaper today. Write down three words that appear next to it.

Word Origin

From the Semitic root N-B-A, which relates to calling out, proclaiming, or bringing news. It is shared across many Semitic languages including Hebrew (Navi).

Original meaning: The act of bringing news from a distance or from a divine source.

Afroasiatic -> Semitic -> Central Semitic -> Arabic

Cultural Context

Avoid using 'Tanabbu' to describe religious prophets; use 'Nubu'ah' instead to show proper respect and linguistic accuracy.

In English, 'prediction' can be casual. In Arabic, 'Tanabbu' is usually more formal, like 'forecast' or 'prognosis'.

Modern weather channels (Al-Arabiya Weather). Economic reports by the IMF in Arabic. Sci-fi novels by Ahmed Khaled Towfik.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Weather Station

النَّشْرَةُ الجَوِّيَّةُ
تَنَبُّؤَاتُ المَطَرِ
خَرِيطَةُ الطَّقْسِ
دَرَجَاتُ الحَرَارَةِ المُتَنَبَّأُ بِهَا

Stock Market

أَسْعَارُ الأَسْهُمِ
تَنَبُّؤَاتُ الأَرْبَاحِ
اتِّجَاهُ السُّوقِ
تَحْلِيلُ المَخَاطِرِ

Science Lab

الفَرْضِيَّةُ العِلْمِيَّةُ
النَّتَائِجُ المُتَوَقَّعَةُ
النَّمُوذَجُ الرِّيَاضِيُّ
التَّحَقُّقُ مِنَ التَّنَبُّؤِ

Election Coverage

اسْتِطْلَاعَاتُ الرَّأْيِ
نِسْبَةُ التَّصْوِيتِ
الفَائِزُ المُحْتَمَلُ
تَنَبُّؤَاتُ الصَّنَادِيقِ

Artificial Intelligence

تَعَلُّمُ الآلَةِ
الخُوَارِزْمِيَّةُ التَّنَبُّؤِيَّةُ
مُعَالَجَةُ البَيَانَاتِ
دِقَّةُ النَّمُوذَجِ

Conversation Starters

"مَا هُوَ تَنَبُّؤُكَ لِمُسْتَقْبَلِ العَمَلِ عَنْ بُعْدٍ؟ (What is your prediction for the future of remote work?)"

"هَلْ تَعْتَقِدُ أَنَّ التَّنَبُّؤَ بِالزَّلَازِلِ سَيُصْبِحُ مُمْكِناً يَوْماً مَا؟ (Do you think predicting earthquakes will become possible one day?)"

"كَيْفَ تُؤَثِّرُ تَنَبُّؤَاتُ الطَّقْسِ عَلَى خِطَطِكَ لِعُطْلَةِ نِهَايَةِ الأُسْبُوعِ؟ (How do weather predictions affect your weekend plans?)"

"هَلْ تَثِقُ فِي تَنَبُّؤَاتِ الذَّكَاءِ الِاصْطِنَاعِيِّ أَكْثَرَ مِنَ البَشَرِ؟ (Do you trust AI predictions more than humans?)"

"مَا هُوَ أَغْرَبُ تَنَبُّؤٍ سَمِعْتَهُ وَتَحَقَّقَ فِعْلًا؟ (What is the strangest prediction you heard that actually came true?)"

Journal Prompts

اكْتُبْ عَنْ تَنَبُّؤٍ قُمْتَ بِهِ فِي المَاضِي وَكَانَ صَحِيحاً. كَيْفَ شَعَرْتَ؟ (Write about a prediction you made in the past that was correct. How did you feel?)

تَخَيَّلْ أَنَّكَ تَعِيشُ فِي عَامِ ٢١٠٠. مَا هِيَ تَنَبُّؤَاتُكَ لِحَيَاةِ النَّاسِ حِينَئِذٍ؟ (Imagine you live in the year 2100. What are your predictions for people's lives then?)

هَلْ تَعْتَقِدُ أَنَّ زِيَادَةَ التَّنَبُّؤَاتِ تَجْعَلُ الحَيَاةَ مُمِلَّةً أَمْ أَكْثَرَ أَمَاناً؟ (Do you think increasing predictions makes life boring or safer?)

نَاقِشْ دَوْرَ التَّنَبُّؤِ فِي العُلُومِ الحَدِيثَةِ. (Discuss the role of prediction in modern sciences.)

اذْكُرْ مَوْقِفاً فَشَلَتْ فِيهِ التَّنَبُّؤَاتُ وَتَسَبَّبَتْ فِي مُشْكِلَةٍ. (Mention a situation where predictions failed and caused a problem.)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, especially in a formal context like a sports analysis show. For a casual bet with friends, 'Tawaqqu'' is more common.

No, it can be singular (a single prediction) or plural (a set of predictions). Plural 'Tanabbu'at' is very common in weather and economic contexts.

The verb is 'Tanabba'a' (تَنَبَّأَ - to predict). It follows the same Form V pattern.

Not at all. It is a very polite, intellectual, and professional word.

It is spelled تَنَبُّؤَات. The Hamza stays on the Waw.

Technically no. Intuition is 'Hads'. Tanabbu' implies some sort of external evidence or logical process.

The root N-B-A is used extensively, but the specific form 'Tanabbu' is more modern and common in Standard Arabic.

Only if preceded by 'wrong' (khati'). By itself, it is neutral.

Yes, this is a very common modern usage: 'At-Tanabbu' al-Ali' (Machine prediction).

Istishraf is 'foresight'—looking at the very long term and broad horizons. Tanabbu' is usually for specific events or data points.