/pø.tɛtʁ/
Translation
maybe, perhaps
Word origin
A compound of peut (third person of pouvoir, from Latin posse, 'to be able') and être (from Latin esse, 'to be'), literally 'it may be', meaning 'perhaps'.
- Origin
- Latin
- Root
- posse + esse
Examples
- ' permet .
Maybe he'll come if the weather allows tomorrow.
- .
She may have already left before we arrived.
C' - .
It is perhaps the best decision you have ever made.
- ' , au .
Maybe it will rain tomorrow, take your coat just in case.
- .
I will perhaps come to see you on Saturday if I'm free.
- s'écrit toujours avec un trait d'union - sans lui, on obtient deux mots distincts avec un sens différent (il peut être fatigué = he may be tired, sans doute). Lorsqu'il est en tête de phrase, l'inversion du sujet est possible dans un registre soutenu : peut-être viendra-t-il.
Devant une proposition, on utilise peut-être que sans inversion : peut-être qu'il viendra (oral standard). L'inversion peut-être viendra-t-il est littéraire. Les deux constructions coexistent selon le registre. L'équivalent moins hésitant est probablement, plus affirmatif.
Where this fits
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Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 3.