Ways to say it
| Dutch | IPA |
|---|---|
| misschien | /mɪˈsxin/ /məˈsxin/ |
| wellicht | |
| mogelijk | /ˈmoː.ɣə.lək/ |
| mogelijkerwijs |
These terms are used to indicate a lack of certainty. misschien is the most common and straightforward way to express this idea. In casual speech, you might also hear the phrase kan zijn to mean "can be" or "could be" or the combination misschien wel to express a stronger sense of possibility.
Which one should you use?
While misschien is an adverb used to express uncertainty, mogelijk can function as an adjective meaning "possible" or as an adverb meaning "possibly".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
wellicht and mogelijkerwijs are more formal and literary versions of "maybe", with mogelijkerwijs being a sophisticated adverbial form often found in written text. In contrast, kan zijn and misschien wel are used in informal, casual conversations.
How does it change in a sentence?
When misschien starts a sentence, it often triggers inversion, which means the verb comes before the subject.
How do you pronounce it?
/mɪˈsxin/
Did you know?
- The word misschien is actually a contraction of an old phrase meaning 'it may happen'. It combines the verbs 'may' and 'happen' into a single word.
- The word mogelijkerwijs is so formal that using it in a casual conversation can sound jokingly posh or overly dramatic to a native speaker.
Examples in context
- Misschien is het waar.Maybe it's true.This sentence shows how to use misschien to express a possibility regarding a fact.Tatoeba #4225768 by megamanenm, translation #866728 by avenelanna
- Misschien was jij het.Maybe it was you.This sentence demonstrates using misschien to express uncertainty about who performed an action.Tatoeba #4225798 by megamanenm, translation #2648769 by CK
- Misschien is Tom dood.Maybe Tom is dead.This sentence shows the use of misschien to express a possibility regarding a state of being.Tatoeba #4225812 by megamanenm, translation #3368852 by CK
- Ja, misschien kan ik komen.Yes, maybe I can come.
- Wellicht is dat een goede optie.Perhaps that is a good option.
- Misschien wel, ik heb wel zin in pizza.Maybe, I do feel like having pizza.
- Ja, kan zijn, als het mooi weer is.Yes, maybe, if the weather is nice.
- 247 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Levi and Lisa are deciding whether to go for a walk.
- LeviGaan we vanavond wandelen?Are we going for a walk tonight?
- LisaMisschien, als het niet regent.Maybe, if it doesn't rain.
- LeviDat zou leuk zijn.That would be nice.
- LisaLaten we het afwachten.Let's wait and see.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “maybe” translations and entries misschien, wellicht, mogelijk, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries misschien, mogelijk, wellicht, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
