German word

vielleicht

Pronunciation

IPA/fiˈlaɪ̯çt/

Meaning

  • adverbmaybe

Example

Ich komme vielleicht morgen.

I might come tomorrow.

Illustration for vielleicht (maybe)

More examples

Komm vielleicht mal vorbei.

Maybe come by sometime.

Core concept

A clouded forecast leaves an event possible but gives no firm commitment.

Common phrases

  • vielleicht mal

    maybe sometime

  • vielleicht nicht

    maybe not

Similar words

wahrscheinlich: Indicates that an event is considered likely to happen.
eventuell: Indicates that an event may happen under certain circumstances.

Definition in German

Vielleicht ist ein Adverb zur Kennzeichnung von Unsicherheit oder Möglichkeit; es signalisiert, dass eine Aussage nicht feststeht.

Word origin

The word is an inherited German adverb formed from vil, 'much', and līhte, 'easily', whose combined meaning shifted toward uncertainty.

Usage tips

  • In a main clause, vielleicht does not alter the verb-second rule: Vielleicht komme ich morgen.

Opposites

Word lists with this word