Portuguese · Greetings & Essentials
"Maybe" in Portuguese: talvez
talvez
Maybe in Portuguese is talvez. It softens plans: Talvez eu vá and Talvez chova.
Weekend plans
Talvez a gente vá à praia no domingo.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce talvez
Say it
tahl-VEHZ
/taw.ˈves/
tahl-VEHZ
"Maybe" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| talvez | maybe / perhaps Default. | Default. |
| talvez sim | maybe yes Hesitant yes. | Hesitant yes. |
| talvez não | maybe not Hesitant no. | Hesitant no. |
| quem sabe | who knows / maybe Related soft maybe. | Related soft maybe. |
How to use talvez in real life
- 1Weekend plans
Talvez a gente vá à praia no domingo.
Maybe we’ll go to the beach on Sunday.
Soft plan.
- 2Weather
Leva o guarda-chuva — talvez chova.
Take the umbrella — maybe it’ll rain.
Possibility.
- 3Invite reply
Talvez eu chegue um pouco mais tarde.
Maybe I’ll arrive a bit later.
Polite uncertainty.
Mistakes English speakers make with talvez
Incorrect: Maybe eu vou.
Correct: Talvez eu vá. / Talvez eu vou.
Use talvez. Formal writing prefers subjunctive vá; speech often keeps vou.
Incorrect: Tal veiz amanhã.
Correct: Talvez amanhã.
One word: talvez.
Good to know
Talvez keeps Brazilian plans flexible — people hedge before confirming. Quem sabe is a cousin phrase with a shrug. For firmer yes, switch to claro or com certeza.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Deciding on a movie tonight
ChatPal
Talvez a gente pegue o filme das nove?
Maybe we catch the nine o’clock movie?
You
Talvez. Depende do trânsito.
Maybe. Depends on traffic.
ChatPal
Se atrasar, vemos outro horário.
If we’re late, we’ll see another time.
You
Combinado. Te aviso às sete.
Deal. I’ll text you at seven.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Maybe" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Maybe" in Portuguese
Maybe not?
Talvez não.
Do I need the subjunctive?
Writing likes talvez + subjunctive; casual speech often uses the indicative.
Synonym?
Quem sabe.
Stronger certainty?
Com certeza or claro.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
