Ways to say it
| Thai | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| คงจะ | kong-jà | /kʰoŋ˧.t͡ɕaʔ˨˩/ |
| บางที | baang-tii | /baːŋ˧.tʰiː˧/ |
These words are used to indicate a lack of certainty. While you might use 'maybe' as an adverb in English, it is often more natural in Thai to use the auxiliary verb อาจจะ to express a similar sense of possibility. If you want to state that something is possible, you can use the phrase เป็นไปได้. When using บางที to mean 'maybe', it is typically placed at the beginning of a sentence or clause.
What does it mean word for word?
The word บางที is composed of บาง, meaning 'some' and ที, meaning 'time' or 'instance'.
Which one should you use?
The two forms differ in their degree of certainty. บางที is used for a more uncertain, speculative 'maybe' or 'perhaps'. In contrast, คงจะ implies a higher degree of probability, a logical assumption or a sense of 'probably' or 'likely'.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is kong-jà. The IPA is /kʰoŋ˧.tɕaʔ˨˩/.
Did you know?
- Thai speakers often avoid saying maybe directly to be polite, instead using soft particles or vague phrasing to avoid a direct 'no'.
- The word คงจะ can be intensified by adding แน่ๆ to the end of a sentence, effectively turning a 'maybe' into a 'most likely'.
- Thai uses different particles to fine-tune how much you actually believe your own 'maybe'.
Examples in context
- บางทีพวกเขาอาจช่วยเราหาวิธีรักษาได้Maybe they can help us find a cure.This sentence is useful for illustrating the use of บางที at the beginning of a sentence.Tatoeba #10277498 by Somsak, translation #4850038 by CK
- อาจจะมีฝนตกมากพรุ่งนี้Maybe there will be heavy rain tomorrow.
- อาจทำแบบนี้จะดีกว่าMaybe doing it this way would be better.
- ไม่แน่นอนว่าจะได้เข้ารอบต่อไปNot sure if I'll move on to the next round.
- เป็นไปได้ที่เขาจะมาพรุ่งนี้It's possible that he/she will come tomorrow.
- เขาคงจะมาสายหน่อยนะkhao khong cha ma sai noi naHe will probably be a little late.
- ฝนคงจะตกในไม่ช้าfon khong cha tok nai mai chaIt will probably rain soon.
Example conversation
Pimon and Witthawat are discussing a colleague's absence.
- พิมล Pimonทำไมเขาถึงยังไม่มาtham mai khao thueng yang mai maWhy hasn't he arrived yet?
- วิทวัส Witthawatเขาคงจะลืมเวลานัดkhao khong cha luem we la natMaybe he forgot the appointment time.
- พิมล Pimonฉันจะลองโทรหาเขาดูchan cha long tho ha khao duI will try calling him.
- วิทวัส Witthawatนั่นเป็นความคิดที่ดีnan pen khwam khit thi diThat is a good idea.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “maybe” translations and entries คงจะ, บางที, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
