शायद
śāyad/ʃɑː.jəd̪/
The Hindi word for 'maybe' is शायद (śāyad). Wiktionary also lists कदाचित् (kadācit) and कदाचित (kadācit).
Meaning: indicating a lack of certainty (adv)
Ways to say it
| Hindi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| शायद | śāyad | /ʃɑː.jəd̪/ (Hindi, Standard) |
| कदाचित् | kadācit | /kə.d̪ɑː.t͡ʃɪt̪/ (Hindi, Standard) |
| कदाचित | kadācit | /kə.d̪ɑː.t͡ʃɪt̪/ (Hindi, Standard) |
Both शायद and its variants are used to indicate a lack of certainty.
Which one should you use?
शायद is the common way to say 'maybe'. In contrast, कदाचित् is a more formal and literary version used in written or high-register speech.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word शायद can be placed at the beginning of a sentence or before the verb to express uncertainty.
How do you pronounce it?
śāyad is pronounced /ʃɑː.jəd̪/. The word has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- In some Indian social contexts, saying शायद can be a polite way to give a 'soft no' without causing offense to the listener.
- The word शायद is a loanword from Persian, reflecting the deep influence of the Mughal Empire on the development of Hindi and Urdu.
- The formal form कदाचित् is rarely spoken aloud today and exists primarily in written Sanskritized Hindi, making it almost a 'ghost word' in spoken street language.
Examples in context
- टॉम शायद तुमसे प्यार नहीं करता है।Maybe Tom doesn't love you.This example shows how to use शायद to express uncertainty about someone's feelings.Tatoeba #12406392 by Saumya, translation #12877199 by Yepthatscool
- शायद वह तुम्हारी मदद कर सकती है।Maybe she can help you.This example demonstrates using शायद to suggest a possibility of help.
- शायद तुम सही हो!Maybe you're right!This example illustrates using शायद at the beginning of a sentence to express a possibility.Tatoeba #13688784 by sabretou, translation #10067724 by Nylez
- संभवतः, मैं आज उस परियोजना पर काम कर सकता हूँ।Maybe, I can work on that project today.
- शायद मैं कल तुम्हारे पास आ सकूँ।Maybe I can come to your place tomorrow.
- हो सकता है कि वह आज देर से आए।Maybe he will come late today.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing if it will rain today.
- अंजलि Anjaliक्या आज बारिश होगी?Kya aaj baarish hogi?Will it rain today?
- विकास Vikasशायद, बादल बहुत काले हैं।Shayad, baadal bahut kaale hain.Maybe, the clouds are very dark.
- अंजलि Anjaliक्या हमें छाता साथ रखना चाहिए?Kya humein chhaata saath rakhna chahiye?Should we carry an umbrella?
- विकास Vikasहाँ, यह अच्छा रहेगा।Haan, yeh achha rahega.Yes, that would be good.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “maybe” translations and entries शायद, कदाचित्, कदाचित, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries कदाचित्, शायद, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
