Prédiction vs. prévision
'Prédiction' and 'prévision' are both French words that can be related to the concept of foreseeing or anticipatory statements. While they may seem similar, they carry subtle differences in their use and connotations within the French language. Understanding these differences is key to using each term correctly in various contexts.
Prédiction
A 'prédiction' refers to a more general and often less empirical assertion about what will happen in the future. It tends to be associated with prophecies, forecasts without statistical basis, speculative projections, and sometimes supernatural insights.
La prédiction de la voyante concernait le destin du roi.
(The fortune-teller's prediction was about the king's fate.)
Il a fait une prédiction audacieuse sur l'issue de la coupe du monde de football.
(He made a bold prediction about the outcome of the soccer World Cup.)
Selon la prédiction, il y aura un grand bouleversement économique dans les prochaines années.
(According to the prediction, there will be a major economic upheaval in the coming years.)
Prévision
'Prévision' usually means a forecast based on analysis, observation or scientific methods. It often refers to weather forecasts, economic forecasts, population growth estimates, and other analyses where data and models are used to make informed judgments about future events or trends.
Les prévisions météorologiques annoncent de la pluie pour demain.
(The weather forecast predicts rain for tomorrow.)
La prévision économique pour le prochain trimestre montre une possible récession.
(The economic forecast for the next quarter shows a possible recession.)
Les prévisions de vente pour le nouvel appareil sont très prometteuses.
(The sales forecast for the new device is very promising.)
Summary
In summary, while both 'prédiction' and 'prévision' involve looking into the future, 'prédiction' is more closely aligned with predictions that can lack empirical evidence and are sometimes speculative or prophetic in nature. In contrast, 'prévision' is more analytical, relying on data and methodological approaches to anticipate future events or trends. Understanding when to use each word largely depends on the context of the forecast or prediction being made.