vielleicht

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German

Etymology

From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Middle High German vil līchte (“very easily”), thus: “what could easily happen”. Compare the same in German Low German villicht, Dutch wellicht, Saterland Frisian fielicht.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /fiˈlaɪ̯çt/, /fɪˈlaɪ̯çt/ Lua error in Module:parameters at line 290: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "standard" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E.
  • IPA(key): /flaɪ̯ç(t)/ Lua error in Module:parameters at line 290: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "often in common speech" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E.
  • audio (Austria):(file)
  • Audio:(file)
  • Rhymes: -aɪ̯çt

Adverb

vielleicht

  1. perhaps, maybe
    Vielleicht hat er einen Unfall gehabt.
    Maybe he’s had an accident.
  2. frequently replaces bitte (“please”) in polite questions
    Könnten Sie vielleicht das Fenster aufmachen?
    Could you perhaps open the window?
  3. (colloquial) expresses amazement or excitement, particularly at something negative
    Das is’ vielleicht ’ne Geldverschwendung da!
    Now, that’s some waste of money!

Usage notes

  • The use of vielleicht in a polite question is often preferable because it invites the person asked to disagree, whereas bitte may sound insisting. This depends a lot on context and intonation, however.

Synonyms

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