adverb
kanske
maybe
Definition & meaning
Kanske means perhaps, maybe, or possibly. It expresses uncertainty or a possibility.
- Han kommer kanske imorgon. — He might come tomorrow.
- Kanske! — Maybe!
Grammar & Word origin
Kanske is an adverb and does not change form. It can appear at the beginning of a sentence or within it.
It originally comes from the phrase kan ske , literally “can happen.”
Synonyms & antonyms
- möjligen — “possibly”; often sounds more formal or cautious.
- eventuellt — “possibly” or “potentially”; often used in more formal contexts.
- säkert — “certainly”; expresses confidence rather than uncertainty.
- definitivt — “definitely”; expresses a stronger degree of certainty.
Common phrases & collocations
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Examples
Kanske kommer vi till festen.adverb
Maybe we will come to the party.
Hon vill kanske köpa en ny bil.adverb
Maybe she wants to buy a new car.
Det regnar kanske i morgon.adverb
Maybe it will rain tomorrow.
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