Today’s lesson will focus on peut-être, an essential French adverb. Meanings include maybe, perhaps, possibly and might. For example, Elle va peut-être venir (Maybe she’ll come). Let’s get straight to the example sentences!
peut-être
maybe
Peut-être Meaning & Translation
The literal meaning of peut-être is “can to be”. Peut is the third-person singular (il/elle) form of the verb pouvoir (can, to be able to). Être is the infinitive form (to form) of the verb “to be” in French.
Example sentences peut-être
In our first example sentence, peut-être is being used a quick interjection: “maybe”.
Est-ce que tu vas apprendre tous les mots ? – Peut-être.
Are you going to learn the words? – Maybe.
As mentioned above, peut-être has four possible translations including maybe, perhaps, possibly and might. Hence, the following example sentence could just as easily translate to “Marie might arrive tomorrow” or “Marie will possibly arrive tomorrow”, for example. This sentence is in the futur simple, a French future tense.
Marie arrivera peut-être demain.
Marie will maybe arrive tomorrow.
This next example sentence uses the word vacances (vacation). This sentence could also translate to “I will perhaps” or “I will posssibly” extend my vacation.
Je vais peut-être prolonger mes vacances.
I might extend my vacation.
In this final example, other translations include “possibly” or “perhaps” another time.
Je ne peux pas rester aujourd’hui, mais peut-être une autre fois.
I can’t stay today – maybe another time.
Conclusion
Was this lesson of any use to you? Peut-être (maybe)! Now consider having a look at some of our other Word of the Day lessons including que veut dire (what does _ mean?), vers/envers (towards) and ainsi (like this).
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