vielleicht
maybe
Expresses a possibility or uncertainty; in the sense of 'possibly', 'perhaps', 'maybe'.
EXAMPLE
Vielleicht regnet es morgen, ich bin nicht sicher.
Maybe it will rain tomorrow; I'm not sure.
vielleicht
maybe
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Meanings
vielleicht
perhaps
Used in polite questions or requests to soften them and make them sound less demanding.
EXAMPLE
Könnten Sie mir vielleicht sagen, wie spät es ist?
Could you perhaps tell me what time it is?
vielleicht
really
Used in exclamations to express annoyance, amazement, or strong emphasis. The meaning here is rhetorical and not to be taken literally.
EXAMPLE
Das ist vielleicht eine Frechheit!
That really is an outrage!
Usage tips
Word order
The position of 'vielleicht' (maybe) is flexible. If it stands at the beginning of the sentence (position 1), the verb follows immediately. If it stands within the sentence, it does not change the normal word order.
EXAMPLE
Vielleicht kommt er später.
Maybe he'll come later.
Polite questions
In questions, 'vielleicht' (perhaps) makes a request or question more indirect and polite. Here it does not necessarily express uncertainty, but rather is a sign of tact.
EXAMPLE
Hätten Sie vielleicht einen Moment Zeit für mich?
Would you perhaps have a moment for me?
Emphasis and emotion
In an exclamation, 'vielleicht' expresses strong emotions such as surprise or annoyance. The stress then falls strongly on 'vielleicht', and the sentence often ends with an exclamation mark.
EXAMPLE
Du hast schon wieder den Müll nicht rausgebracht! Das ist vielleicht eine Unverschämtheit!
You forgot to take out the trash again! That really is outrageous!
Compare with
vielleicht vs wohl
probably / well
“Wohl” and “vielleicht” both express uncertainty. “Wohl” usually indicates a well-founded assumption or a relatively high probability, whereas “vielleicht” leaves open a possibility without presenting it as especially likely. When there are recognizable indications, wohl is often the better choice; with open uncertainty, vielleicht is more appropriate.
vielleicht
Ich habe ihn heute nicht gesehen, aber vielleicht ist er zu Hause.
I haven't seen him today, but maybe he's at home.
wohl
Sein Auto steht vor der Tür, also ist er wohl zu Hause.
His car is parked outside, so he is probably at home.
In real life
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