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acaso

/ah-CAH-soh/

perhaps

A small, friendly rabbit stands at the base of a tall hill covered in fog, looking up expectantly towards the unseen summit.

When "acaso" means perhaps, it expresses possibility or uncertainty, like wondering what is hidden in the fog.

acaso(adverb)

B1

perhaps

?

expressing possibility

,

maybe

?

expressing doubt

Also:

by any chance

?

used in a question to suggest something is improbable

,

possibly

?

synonym for quizás

📝 In Action

¿Acaso has olvidado mi cumpleaños?

B1

Have you forgotten my birthday by any chance?

Acaso lleguemos tarde si no nos apuramos.

B2

Perhaps we will arrive late if we don't hurry.

No sé si lo hizo él. ¿Acaso crees que miente?

B1

I don't know if he did it. Do you, perhaps, think he is lying?

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • quizás (perhaps)
  • tal vez (maybe)

Common Collocations

  • ¿Y acaso...? – And perhaps...?

💡 Grammar Points

Acaso and the Subjunctive

When 'acaso' is used like 'maybe' or 'perhaps' and placed at the beginning of a sentence (like 'Acaso sea verdad...'), it often triggers the special verb form (subjunctive) because it expresses strong doubt.

Using 'Acaso' in Questions

When used in a question (like '¿Acaso sabes...?'), it adds a challenging, skeptical, or doubtful tone, translating roughly to 'Do you mean to suggest that...?' or 'By any chance...?'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing placement in questions

Mistake: "Acaso, ¿por qué hiciste eso?"

Correction: ¿Acaso por qué hiciste eso? ('Acaso' usually comes right before the verb or the part of the sentence being questioned.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Tonal Difference

'Acaso' often carries more emotional weight (doubt, surprise, skepticism) than the simpler 'quizás' or 'tal vez'. Use it when you are questioning something specific.

A brightly colored red bouncy ball and a single yellow flower petal have fallen simultaneously and landed side-by-side on a patch of green grass, illustrating a random coincidence.

As a noun, "acaso" means chance or coincidence, visualizing an unexpected meeting of two unrelated things.

acaso(noun)

mC1

chance

?

fate or coincidence

Also:

accident

?

a random event

📝 In Action

Todo fue obra del acaso, no de la planeación.

C2

Everything was the work of chance, not planning.

Si lo consigues, será por acaso.

C1

If you get it, it will be by chance.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • azar (chance, fate)
  • casualidad (coincidence)

Common Collocations

  • por acaso – by chance / accidentally

💡 Grammar Points

Fixed Phrase

The most common way to use 'acaso' as a noun is in the prepositional phrase 'por acaso', meaning 'by chance' or 'accidentally'. (Note: This is often replaced by 'por casualidad').

⭐ Usage Tips

Formal Use

Using 'el acaso' as a noun often sounds literary or formal. In everyday conversation, native speakers usually prefer 'la casualidad' or 'el azar'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: acaso

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'acaso' to express strong doubt or challenge a statement?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

casualidad(coincidence, chance) - noun
casualmente(casually, by chance) - adverb

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'acaso' exactly the same as 'quizás' or 'tal vez'?

They are often interchangeable when expressing 'maybe' or 'perhaps'. However, 'acaso' is unique because it is also frequently used within questions to convey a feeling of surprise, skepticism, or challenge, which 'quizás' doesn't usually do.

Does 'acaso' always require the subjunctive verb form?

No. When 'acaso' is used in a question (the most common use), it almost always uses the standard indicative verb form (e.g., ¿Acaso *tienes* tiempo?). It only tends to trigger the special verb form (subjunctive) when it acts as a statement of pure doubt at the beginning of a phrase (e.g., Acaso *sea* posible...).