kanskje
/²kɑn.ʃə/
The Norwegian word for "maybe" is kanskje. Wiktionary also lists kan hende and må hende.
Meaning: indicating a lack of certainty (adv)
Ways to say it
| Norwegian | IPA |
|---|---|
| kanskje | /²kɑn.ʃə/ |
| kan hende | |
| må hende | |
| kan henda | |
| må henda |
All forms are used to indicate a lack of certainty. While kanskje is a single adverb, you can also use the verbal phrase kan hende to express the same concept of uncertainty.
Which one should you use?
kanskje is a single adverb, whereas kan hende is a verbal phrase used to express the same meaning of uncertainty.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The forms kan henda and må henda are dialectal or informal variations of kan hende and må hende where the final e is dropped.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the phrase kan hende to mean "maybe", it is often followed by a subordinate clause, which often starts with at (that), although at is frequently omitted in spoken Norwegian.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /²kɑn.ʃə/ and has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- The word kanskje is literally a combination of the words for 'can' and 'happen'.
- The word må hende translates literally to 'must happen', yet it is used to mean 'maybe'.
- The word kanskje has a direct Danish cousin, måske, which uses a different verb to express the same thing.
Examples in context
- Kanskje det er Tom.Maybe it's Tom.This sentence shows how to use kanskje to express a possibility about someone's identity.Tatoeba #10941010 by Mayk, translation #5902792 by CK
- Kanskje det var en katt.Maybe it was a cat.This sentence shows how to use kanskje to express a possibility about a past event.Tatoeba #8207323 by vikvaering, translation #2648068 by CK
- Kanskje eg kjem til å tapa.Maybe I'll lose.This sentence shows how to use kanskje to express a possibility regarding a future outcome.Tatoeba #13016015 by Just_Some_Guy, translation #8508366 by CK
- Kanskje jeg kan hjelpe deg med det.Maybe I can help you with that.
- Kanskje vi kan dra på kino i morgen?Maybe we can go to the movies tomorrow?
- Jeg er litt usikker på om jeg kan bli med.I'm a bit unsure if I can join.
- Jeg er litt usikker, men jeg skal sjekke kalenderen min.I'm a bit unsure, but I'll check my schedule.
- Kanskje vi kan prøve å få tak i noen billetter.Maybe we can try to get some tickets.
- 17 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Kristoffer and Ingrid are discussing their plans for the evening.
- KristofferSkal vi se en film i kveld?Shall we watch a movie tonight?
- IngridKanskje, men jeg er litt trøtt.Maybe, but I am a little tired.
- KristofferKan vi kanskje se den i morgen?Can we maybe watch it tomorrow?
- IngridJa, det høres ut som en god plan.Yes, that sounds like a good plan.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “maybe” translations and entries kanskje, kan henda, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hende, kan, kan henda, kanskje, må, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
