German word

womöglich

Pronunciation

IPA/voˈmøːklɪç/

Meaning

  • adverbperhaps

Example

Womöglich hat er den Zug verpasst.

Perhaps he missed the train.

Illustration for womöglich (perhaps)

More examples

Darüber wurde womöglich schon früher diskutiert.

That may already have been discussed earlier.

Core concept

An open outcome leaning toward the likely side because of the situation.

Common phrases

  • womöglich schon

    perhaps already

  • womöglich eher

    perhaps rather

Similar words

vielleicht: Expresses a possibility without stating it firmly.
wahrscheinlich: Indicates a high likelihood that something will happen.
möglicherweise: Describes something that could happen if certain conditions apply.
eventuell: Suggests that something may happen in some circumstances.

Definition in German

Womöglich kennzeichnet eine Vermutung, die unter den gegebenen Umständen als wahrscheinlich gilt, ohne Gewissheit.

Word origin

The adverb arose from the combination wo möglich, which first expressed a condition of possibility and later came to introduce a supposition.

Usage tips

  • Womöglich can stand at the start of a clause or after the subject, but it remains an adverb and does not change the verb's position.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word