Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

maybe

/ˈmæɪ.bi/

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.45 in modern English

Syllables
maybe
IPA
/ˈmæɪ.bi/
12
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars

Meaning

adv

Perhaps, possibly.

adv

Perhaps that is true (expressing no commitment to a decision or a neutral viewpoint to a statement).

adv

Certainly.

British usage

adj

Possible; uncertain.

noun

Something that is possibly true.

Informal

noun

An answer that shows neither agreement nor disagreement.

Informal

noun

A future event that may or may not happen.

Informal

Example Sentences

Etymology

From an ellipsis of Middle English it may be, equivalent to may + be. Compare mayhap.

Origin

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˈmæɪ.bi/

Usage

Inflected Forms

mebbe (alternative, dialectal) may-be (alternative, obsolete) more maybe (comparative) most maybe (superlative) maybes (plural)

Derived Forms

maybeish maybeness maybeso

Phrases

and I don't mean maybe maybe baby bias maybe baby effect maybe type definite maybe

Synonyms

mayhaps peradventure perhaps possibly could be might be that’s possible perchance mayhap

Rhymes With

baby crybaby achebe raby mabey slaby taibi sabey adult baby ab gaby aby

Questions

How do you pronounce maybe?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈmæɪ.bi/.
What does maybe mean?
Perhaps, possibly.
Where does maybe come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce maybe

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “maybe”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈmæɪ.bi/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “maybe”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “maybe” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.