Hindi · Greetings & Essentials

"Maybe" in Hindi: शायद

शायदshaayad

Say it: SHAA-yadadverb/ʃɑːjəd̪/

Maybe in Hindi is शायद (shaayad). Soften plans: शायद मैं आऊँ, or weather: शायद बारिश हो.

Weekend plan

शायद रविवार को बाज़ार जाएँ।

shaayad ravivaar ko baazaar jaaen.

Maybe we'll go to the market on Sunday.
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How to pronounce शायद

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SHAA-yad

/ʃɑːjəd̪/

Shaayad is SHAA-yad. Long aa, light y glide, soft d. Two beats.

"Maybe" in Hindi: quick reference

HindiEnglish
शायदshaayadmaybe; perhaps

Default uncertainty.

शायद हाँshaayad haanmaybe yes

Leaning yes.

शायद नहींshaayad nahinmaybe not

Leaning no.

हो सकता हैho sakta haiit might be / maybe

Common alternative.

How to use शायद in real life

  1. 1Weekend plan

    शायद रविवार को बाज़ार जाएँ।

    shaayad ravivaar ko baazaar jaaen.

    Maybe we'll go to the market on Sunday.

    Soft plan.

  2. 2Weather guess

    शायद दोपहर में धूप निकले।

    shaayad dopahar mein dhoop nikle.

    Maybe the sun will come out at noon.

    Forecast hedge.

  3. 3Invite reply

    शायद आऊँ, समय देखकर बताऊँगा।

    shaayad aaoon, samay dekhkar bataaoonga.

    Maybe I'll come — I'll tell you after checking the time.

    Polite hedge.

Mistakes English speakers make with शायद

Incorrect: Zaroor when you mean maybe

Correct: Shaayad

Zaroor is of course; shaayad is maybe.

Incorrect: Shaayad with a hard English d

Correct: Soft dental d on shaayad

Keep the Hindi d light.

Good to know

शायद is the social grease of Indian plans — it leaves room without a hard no. Combined with dekhenge (we'll see), it manages expectations politely. Ho sakta hai is a close twin.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Deciding on a late movie

  1. ChatPal

    रात की फ़िल्म चलें?

    raat ki film chalen?

    Shall we do the night movie?

  2. You

    शायद, थकान देखकर तय करें।

    shaayad, thakaan dekhkar tay karen.

    Maybe — let's decide based on tiredness.

  3. ChatPal

    शायद नौ बजे शो बेहतर हो।

    shaayad nau baje show behtar ho.

    Maybe the nine o'clock show is better.

  4. You

    ठीक, टिकट बाद में देखते हैं।

    theek, ticket baad mein dekhte hain.

    Okay — we'll look at tickets later.

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"Maybe" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Maybe" in Hindi

Maybe not?

Shaayad nahin.

Alternative phrase?

Ho sakta hai.

Of course instead?

Zaroor.

Soft plan tip?

Lead with shaayad, then a verb.

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