Perhaps you've already learned that peut-être is the most common way to say "maybe" in French. And while it's a perfectly good word to use, the French language, like English, offers a delightful array of alternatives to express uncertainty, possibility, or hesitation. Learning these different phrases will not only enrich your vocabulary but also allow you to convey more nuanced meanings in various social contexts. So, let's dive into 9 different ways to say "maybe" and add some flexibility to your French conversations!

The standard 'maybe' or 'perhaps' – peut-être

The standard “maybe” or “perhaps” – peut-être

Peut-être is the most common and versatile French word for “maybe” or “perhaps”.

Literally translating to “can be” (peut from pouvoir meaning “can”, and être meaning “to be”), it functions as a fixed, invariable expression.

You can typically place peut-être either directly after the verb or at the very beginning of a sentence.

When peut-être follows the verb, the sentence structure remains simple and direct, similar to English.

To avoid grammatical complexities like inversion, it's very common and often preferred to use peut-être que when starting a sentence, followed by the standard subject-verb order.

If you start a sentence with peut-être and do not use que, French grammar requires subject-verb inversion, making it more formal or literary.

This word is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, making it your go-to for expressing uncertainty.

While it literally means 'can be', avoid using peut-être to express 'it can be' in the sense of possibility for something to exist or occur (e.g., 'It can be difficult'). For that, use cela peut être or il peut être.

💡 * Je viendrai peut-être demain. (I will perhaps come tomorrow.)

Peut-être que nous irons au cinéma ce soir. (Maybe we'll go to the cinema tonight.)

Peut-être viendras-tu avec nous ? (Perhaps will you come with us? - formal/literary inversion)

Il n'est pas là, peut-être est-il en retard. (He's not here, perhaps he's late.)

Peut-être qu'il pleuvra plus tard. (Maybe it will rain later.)

The 'possibly' – possiblement

The French adverb possiblement translates directly to 'possibly' or 'potentially' in English. It's derived from the adjective possible (possible).

While perfectly correct, possiblement is generally considered more formal or literary than its more common counterpart, peut-être. You'll encounter it more frequently in written French or in more structured speech.

In everyday spoken French, peut-être ('maybe' or 'perhaps') is almost always preferred. Think of possiblement as a slightly more emphatic or formal way to express the same idea of possibility.

Possiblement typically precedes the verb it modifies or is placed at the beginning or end of a clause for emphasis. For example, Il viendra possiblement demain (He will possibly come tomorrow) or Possiblement, il pleuvra (Possibly, it will rain).

Using possiblement can sometimes subtly convey that while something is possible, there might be a degree of uncertainty or even a slight unlikelihood, depending on the context and tone. It's a precise word for a precise nuance.

💡 * Elle arrivera possiblement avant la fin de la journée. (She will possibly arrive before the end of the day.)

Nous pourrions possiblement revoir nos plans. (We could possibly review our plans.)

Possiblement, la solution se trouve dans les détails. (Possibly, the solution lies in the details.)

Le projet sera possiblement retardé. (The project will possibly be delayed.)

Il est possiblement trop tard pour changer d'avis. (It is possibly too late to change one's mind.)

The 'it is possible' – il est possible

The phrase il est possible directly translates to 'it is possible' in English and is a fundamental expression for indicating possibility or likelihood in French.

You will most commonly encounter il est possible followed by either de + an infinitive verb or que + a clause in the subjunctive mood.

When expressing that 'it is possible to do something,' the structure il est possible de + infinitive verb is used. This construction is straightforward and doesn't require a change in mood for the following verb.

To state that 'it is possible that something happens,' you must use il est possible que followed by a clause where the verb is in the subjunctive mood. This is a crucial grammatical point for French learners.

While il est possible is more formal and often used to introduce a statement, you might also hear C'est possible! as a more informal, standalone exclamation meaning 'It's possible!'

💡 * Il est possible de voyager en train. (It is possible to travel by train.)

Il est possible qu'il pleuve demain. (It is possible that it will rain tomorrow.)

Il est possible que nous allions au cinéma ce soir. (It is possible that we go to the cinema tonight.)

Il est possible d'apprendre le français rapidement. (It is possible to learn French quickly.)

C'est possible, mais peu probable. (It's possible, but unlikely.)

The 'it could be' – ça se pourrait

Ça se pourrait directly translates to "it could be" or "it might be," expressing a possibility or a likelihood.

This phrase is an impersonal expression, meaning it doesn't refer to a specific subject but rather to a general situation or idea. It's always used with "ça" (or "cela") as the subject.

It's a very common and natural way to express a possibility in everyday French conversation, often used when you're not entirely sure about something but acknowledge it as a potential outcome.

💡 * Ça se pourrait qu'il pleuve demain. (It might rain tomorrow.)* Ça se pourrait qu'elle vienne avec nous. (It's possible she'll come with us.)* Tu penses qu'il est en retard ? Ça se pourrait. (Do you think he's late? It's possible.)* Ça se pourrait que je sois occupé ce soir. (I might be busy tonight.)* Ça se pourrait que ce soit la meilleure solution. (It could be the best solution.)

The 'it's probable' – c'est probable

When you want to express likelihood or probability in French, the phrase c'est probable is one of the most straightforward and commonly used options.

C'est probable directly translates to "it's probable" or "it's likely." It indicates that something has a good chance of happening or being true.

You use c'est probable to convey a strong possibility without absolute certainty. It's a versatile expression suitable for various situations, from daily conversations to more formal discussions.

Crucially, when c'est probable is followed by a subordinate clause introduced by que, the verb in that clause must be in the subjunctive mood. For example, C'est probable qu'il vienne. (It's probable that he comes/will come.)

This phrase maintains a neutral register, making it appropriate for most contexts. It's neither overly formal nor excessively informal, fitting well into both casual and slightly more serious discussions.

💡 * C'est probable qu'il pleuve demain. (It's probable that it will rain tomorrow.)

Elle a dit qu'elle viendrait, c'est probable. (She said she would come, it's probable.)

C'est probable que tu aies raison. (It's probable that you are right.)

Pensez-vous qu'il réussisse ? Oui, c'est probable. (Do you think he will succeed? Yes, it's probable.)

The 'by chance' or 'by accident' – par hasard

The French phrase par hasard directly translates to “by chance” or “by accident” in English. It's an indispensable expression for describing events that occur without prior planning or intention.

This adverbial phrase is widely used to indicate that something happened coincidentally, unexpectedly, or without deliberate action. It conveys the idea of happenstance rather than a planned outcome.

While par hasard can mean 'by accident,' it often carries a lighter connotation than accidentellement. Par hasard suggests a fortunate or neutral coincidence, whereas accidentellement typically implies an unintended, often negative, mishap or error.

You'll hear par hasard frequently in everyday conversation when people recount unexpected encounters, discoveries, or unplanned occurrences. It's a natural way to express spontaneity.

Its simple structure and clear meaning make it a versatile phrase. Whether you're talking about finding something, meeting someone, or witnessing an event, par hasard precisely captures the element of chance.

💡 * J'ai trouvé mon portefeuille par hasard dans le parc. (I found my wallet by chance in the park.)

Nous nous sommes rencontrés par hasard à Paris. (We met by chance in Paris.)

Il est tombé sur ce livre par hasard. (He stumbled upon this book by chance.)

Si par hasard tu la vois, dis-lui bonjour de ma part. (If by any chance you see her, say hello for me.)

Ce n'était pas prévu, c'est arrivé par hasard. (It wasn't planned, it happened by chance.)

The 'who knows?' – qui sait ?

The French expression qui sait ? literally translates to 'who knows?' and is used to convey uncertainty or a sense of possibility.

It functions as a rhetorical question, often implying 'anything is possible' or 'it's uncertain but could happen.' It can be used as a standalone phrase or within a larger sentence.

Unlike many French verbs, qui sait ? is a fixed expression and does not require conjugation, making it straightforward to use in various contexts.

💡 *Qui sait ? Peut-être qu'il viendra. (Who knows? Maybe he'll come.)
*Nous ne savons pas ce qui se passera demain, qui sait ? (We don't know what will happen tomorrow, who knows?)
*Ils pourraient changer d'avis, qui sait ? (They could change their minds, who knows?)
*Avec un peu de chance, qui sait, tu réussiras. (With a bit of luck, who knows, you'll succeed.)

The 'it's not impossible' – ce n'est pas impossible

To express the idea that something is not out of the realm of possibility in French, you can use the phrase ce n'est pas impossible.

Literally translating to 'it is not impossible,' this common French idiom implies that something is possible, often with a hint of caution or a less direct affirmation than simply saying 'c'est possible'.

This phrase is frequently used when you want to acknowledge a possibility without fully committing to it, or when something seems unlikely but still conceivable. It's a nuanced way to suggest that an outcome isn't entirely ruled out.

The structure is straightforward: ce (it) + n'est pas (is not) + impossible (impossible). You can also vary it with different subjects and tenses, for example, Ce n'était pas impossible (It wasn't impossible).

💡 * Ce n'est pas impossible que nous partions demain.

Gagner à la loterie? Ce n'est pas impossible, mais c'est peu probable.

Si tu étudies bien, ce n'est pas impossible que tu réussisses l'examen.

Avec un peu d'effort, ce n'est pas impossible de finir le projet à temps.

The 'eventually' or 'possibly' (in the sense of 'it might happen') – éventuellement

The French word éventuellement is a classic false cognate that often trips up English speakers. While it looks strikingly similar to 'eventually,' its meaning is quite different and can lead to misunderstandings if not used correctly.

Unlike 'eventually' (which means 'in the end' or 'after a long time'), éventuellement translates to 'possibly,' 'potentially,' 'if necessary,' or 'if need be.' It implies a condition or a possibility, not a certainty of outcome over time.

To express 'eventually' in French, you would typically use words like finalement, en fin de compte, à la longue, or tôt ou tard (sooner or later). It's crucial not to substitute these with éventuellement.

Think of éventuellement as adding a layer of contingency or option. It suggests that something might happen or could be done if the circumstances require it, rather than something that will definitely happen over time. It often implies a plan B or a conditional action.

💡 * Nous pourrions éventuellement aller au cinéma ce soir. (We could possibly go to the cinema tonight.)

Si vous avez besoin d'aide, je pourrais éventuellement vous donner un coup de main. (If you need help, I could potentially give you a hand.)

L'entreprise recrutera éventuellement de nouveaux employés si la demande augmente. (The company will possibly recruit new employees if demand increases.)

On peut éventuellement se retrouver à la gare. (We can possibly meet at the station.)

Éventuellement, nous devrons revoir notre plan si les choses changent. (If need be, we will have to review our plan if things change.)

Are there other ways to say 'maybe' in French?

Our list features the most common ways to say 'maybe' in French. However, French is rich with expressions of possibility, uncertainty, and hesitation, ranging from very formal to casual slang, and even regional nuances.

You can also do an online search for 'comment dire peut-être en ___' followed by a specific Francophone country or region to discover local variations.

You might find some interesting synonyms or alternative phrases for peut-être on this list. As always, make sure to check a word or phrase’s definition and try to see it used in context before you incorporate it into your vocabulary.

Pay close attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover various subtle ways to express 'maybe' or degrees of possibility.

And if you’re looking for more nuances or idiomatic expressions related to possibility and uncertainty in French, the WordReference entry for peut-être is an excellent place to start!

I hope you found this article helpful in exploring the various ways to say 'maybe' in French. Keep practicing these expressions, and remember that embracing the nuances of possibility will greatly enrich your communication in French!

9 ways to say "maybe" in French