belki
/bɛlˈci/
The English phrase 'maybe' can be translated into Turkish as belki or olabilir.
Meaning: indicating a lack of certainty (adv)
Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA |
|---|---|
| belki | /bɛlˈci/ |
| olabilir | /olabiliɾ/ (from spelling rules) |
belki is a common and neutral way to express uncertainty, meaning 'maybe' or 'perhaps'.
Which one should you use?
belki is an adverb used to modify a whole sentence or clause, much like the English 'maybe'. In contrast, olabilir is the possibility form of the verb 'to be' and is used as a predicate to mean 'it could be' or 'it is possible'.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can add the particle de to belki to form belki de, which adds an emphasis meaning 'perhaps even' or 'maybe also'.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /bɛlˈci/. The 'b' is like the 'b' in 'about', the 'c' is like the 'k' in 'skew' and the 'i' is like the 'ee' in 'creek'.
Did you know?
- In many social contexts, belki can function as a polite 'no' to an invitation when the speaker wants to avoid being direct.
- In casual spoken Turkish, people often use 'bakalım' (meaning 'let's see') as a way to say 'maybe' or 'we shall see' when avoiding a direct answer.
- The word belki is actually a linguistic traveler from Persian, entering the Turkish language during the Ottoman era.
Examples in context
- Belki o bir tuzak.Maybe it's a trap.This sentence shows how to use belki to express uncertainty about a situation.Tatoeba #2034036 by duran, translation #1556022 by Spamster
- Belki de o sendin.Maybe it was you.This sentence demonstrates the use of belki in a past context.Tatoeba #2776049 by Gulo_Luscus, translation #2648769 by CK
- Belki o o değildi.Maybe it wasn't him.This sentence provides an example of using belki to express doubt about an identity.Tatoeba #4032069 by duran, translation #3909235 by CH
- Belki yarın gelirimMaybe I'll come tomorrow.
- Belki müsait olabilirim.Maybe I might be available.
- Yani, belki yağmur yağar.Maybe it will rain.
- Galiba geleceğim.Maybe I'll come/I guess I'll come.
- 1424 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing whether it will rain during their walk.
- ElifBelki yağmur yağar.Maybe it will rain.
- MehmetSen öyle mi düşünüyorsun?Do you think so?
- ElifEvet, gökyüzü çok karanlık.Yes, the sky is very dark.
- MehmetO zaman yanımıza şemsiye alalım.Then let's take an umbrella with us.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “maybe” translations and entries belki, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Turkish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries belki, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
