# maybe

> English word · Adverb · IPA /ˈmeɪ.bi/ · frequency rank #338

## Definitions
1. Perhaps, possibly.
2. Perhaps that is true (expressing no commitment to a decision or a neutral viewpoint to a statement).
3. Certainly.

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

## Easily confused with
- **MBE** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/maybe-vs-mbe)
- **mayo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/maybe-vs-mayo)
- **maze** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/maybe-vs-maze)
- **Mays** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/maybe-vs-mays)
- **mayor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/maybe-vs-mayor)
- **Mayer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/maybe-vs-mayer)
- **mayne** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/maybe-vs-mayne)
- **Mayes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/maybe-vs-mayes)
- **mayhem** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/maybe-vs-mayhem)
- **Mayhew** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/maybe-vs-mayhew)
- **may** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/may-vs-maybe)
- **mab** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mab-vs-maybe)
- **make** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/make-vs-maybe)
- **made** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/made-vs-maybe)
- **male** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/male-vs-maybe)
- **mate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mate-vs-maybe)
- **Maya** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/maya-vs-maybe)
- **mare** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mare-vs-maybe)
- **mace** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mace-vs-maybe)
- **mane** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mane-vs-maybe)

## Common misspellings (7)
`amybe`, `mabye`, `maybbe`, `mayeb`, `mayybe`, `mmaybe`, `myabe`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/maybe