Spanish Conversation · Level 37
74 words
Spanish word
acaso
Pronunciation
IPA/aˈkaso/
Meaning
- adverbby any chance
Example
¿Acaso hay entradas disponibles?
Are there any tickets available by any chance?
More examples
¿Acaso olvidaste la cita?
Did you by any chance forget the appointment?
Core concept
A raised eyebrow at a suggested possibility.
Common phrases
si acaso
if by any chance
por si acaso
just in case
Similar words
quizá: Frames a soft, cautious possibility in a slightly formal or polite tone.
tal vez: Provides a neutral, everyday way to suggest that something may be so.
a lo mejor: Presents an informal uncertainty often delivered positively or optimistically.
Definition in Spanish
En preguntas retóricas o exclamativas sirve para mostrar sorpresa, incredulidad o reproche sobre una posibilidad, y en contextos neutrales puede equivaler a quizá.
Word origin
The word comes from Latin ad casum ('toward the occurrence'), contracts in Romance into acaso and signals surprise, doubt, or reproach.
Usage tips
- In questions like '¿Acaso hay entradas disponibles?' it often sounds ironic or blaming, so it commonly carries a sharper, skeptical tone than English by any chance.
Other meanings
- perhapsadverb
Opposites
- seguramentesurelyadverb
- ciertamentecertainlyadverb