Saying 'Maybe' or 'Perhaps'

Expressions of Possibility

Spanish has several ways of saying "maybe" or "perhaps." As noted below, most of the expressions of
possibility are frequently used with a verb in the subjunctive mood.
Quizs or, as it is also spelled, quiz is typically used with verbs in the subjunctive mood, although it isn't
unusual to hear it used with a verb in the indicative mood. Quiz(s) can be used interchangeably with talvez,
also spelled tal vez. These words are typically, although not necessarily, placed at the beginnings of sentences.

Quizs te cases, o quizs no. Perhaps you will get married, or perhaps not.
Quiz en otra vida t y yo fuimos amantes. Perhaps in another life you and I were lovers.
Quizs ms tarde. Perhaps later.
Quiz no venga nadie. Maybe nobody will come.
Talvez yo te pueda ayudar. Perhaps I can yelp you.
Tal vez maana sea solo un recuerdo. Perhaps tomorrow it will be only a memory.
Tal vez no pensaron en esto. Maybe they didn't think about it.

A lo mejor is a bit more colloquial than quiz and tal vez. It does not mean "at the best" as you might
suspect, but can usually be translated as "maybe." You should not use the subjunctive with a lo mejor.

A lo mejor soy imbcil. Perhaps I'm stupid.

Hay tres cosas que a lo mejor no sabes de m. There are three things that perhaps you don't know
about me.

A lo mejor nos estn haciendo un favor. Maybe they are doing us a favor.
Posiblemente can be used in much the same way as quiz and tal vez, although it is less common than its
English counterpart, "possibly."

Posiblemente Cuba no participar en campeonato. Maybe Cuba won't participate in the championship.

Posiblemente sea mi imaginacin. It could be my imagination.

Si presenta sntomas en primavera, posiblemente sea alrgico al polen. If symptoms appear in the
spring, you maybe are allergic to pollen.
Puede que, literally meaning "it can be" when it is the subject of a sentence, is an alternative to using the
adverbs above. It is normally followed by a verb in the subjunctive mood.

Puede que debas cambiar por otro medicamento. Perhaps you ought to switch to another medication.

Su plan dental puede que no cubra el costo total de su cuenta. Your dental plan maybe won't cover the
total cost of your account.

Puede que estemos equivocados. Perhaps we are mistaken.

Es posible que, literally meaning "it is possible that," can also be used as an alternative to one of the other
words. In standard Spanish, it is followed by a verb in the subjunctive mood. Like the English phrase, it often
expresses a greater degree of doubt than "maybe." Es posible que hoy te vea. It is possible I will see you
today.