Whats the differnent between maybe and perhaps?

Question

My Husband(hes from Wales) told me theres no different. Im German and learned in school that there is a different. So whats right? Sorry for my bad english.

i mean different

Answer 1

Maybe and perhaps are mostly the same, although "maybe" is more likely to be used in informal speech (among friends and family or any other informal setting), and "perhaps" is more likely to be used either by someone who naturally speaks more formally, or in a situation where a person sees a need to be somewhat formal (business, public speaking, new acquaintances, etc).

Answer 2

You're husband is basically right.

Maybe and perhaps are almost exactly the same in meaning, although, perhaps tends to lean toward the more for sure side. Whereas Maybe is sort of in between. When you look at the definition, though, perhabs is another word for maybe.

may·be (mā'bē)
adv.
Perhaps; possibly.

n. Informal.
An uncertainty: There are so many maybes involved in playing the stock market.
An uncertain reply: It's better to receive a fast and honest no than a drawn-out maybe.


per·haps (pər-hăps')
adv.
Maybe; possibly.
Possibly but not certian.

Answer 3

The difference is extremely subtle and not so very important. "Perhaps" is more likely to happen than "maybe" but not by much. Most people would not recognise a difference. I suspect that there is no difference in the Welsh language as it is more basic than English

Answer 4

That is easy. All you have to do is break down the words. Maybe or May-be can be used like this: your car may be blue or maybe your car is blue. Perhaps or Per-haps indicates a percentage. For example: there is a 100% chance of rain or you could say perhaps it will rain.

Answer 5

hmm well as a non scholarly american speaker i would have to say that...

maybe and perhaps mean basically the same thing although i think the word perhaps infers the more likely....
for example

I dont know, maybe i should go to sleep.
I dont know, perhaps i should go to sleep

they both mean the same thing but i would think that the latter shows more openess to the prospect of going to sleep. the sentence with "maybe" implyies a sort of "im thinking but not acting" idea. i dont know. hope i could help

Answer 6

There is a difference. You are right. Maybe means May be as in it may already have happened, and we just don't know that it has happened. And perhaps means may happen but it has NOT happened yet. That is it.

Answer 7

you ought to use them interchangeably. the only distinction is that "possibly" is used extra generally in England and it is likewise seen slightly extra formal than “perhaps”. good success on studying English. So unusual to take heed to of a 14-300 and sixty 5 days previous committed to studying a language. stimulated me.

Answer 8

maybe = perhaps, possibly
perhaps = possibly, maybe, approximately

so your husband is right.... that is what the dictionary says about the words

Answer 9

Yes! Your right ,Maybe-is to follow After, Perhaps-is to babe ll on, Hench forth the saying!! Talk is Cheap.......

Answer 10

Maybe is less likely then perhapes.