A tiny brown seed rests in dark, rich soil. Directly above the seed, a faint, glowing outline of a large, fully grown green tree symbolizes the potential held within.

posibilidad

poh-see-bee-lee-DAHD

nounfA2

possibility?potential or likelihood of something happening,chance?opportunity or likelihood

Also:option?one choice among many,prospect?future potential

📝 In Action

¿Hay alguna posibilidad de que vengas mañana?

Is there any possibility that you will come tomorrow?

Exploramos todas las posibilidades antes de decidir la ruta.

We explored all the possibilities before deciding the route.

La posibilidad de que gane la lotería es remota, pero existe.

The chance that I win the lottery is remote, but it exists.

Word Connections

Synonyms

opción (option)
probabilidad (probability)
oportunidad (opportunity)

Antonyms

imposibilidad (impossibility)
certeza (certainty)

Common Collocations

Existe la posibilidad – There is the possibility
Tener posibilidades – To have potential/chances
Descartar una posibilidad – To rule out a possibility

💡 Grammar Points

Using 'de'

Use the small word 'de' (of) to connect 'posibilidad' to the action or thing being discussed: 'la posibilidad de viajar' (the possibility of traveling).

Feminine Noun Rule

Remember that almost all Spanish words ending in -dad, like 'posibilidad,' are feminine and take the article 'la' or 'una'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Gender Error

Mistake: "El posibilidad de ir..."

Correction: La posibilidad de ir... 'Posibilidad' is always feminine.

Subjunctive Following Uncertainty

Mistake: "Hay una posibilidad que llueve."

Correction: Hay una posibilidad de que llueva. When expressing possibility or uncertainty, the following verb often uses a special form (the subjunctive, used here as 'llueva').

⭐ Usage Tips

Formal vs. Common Usage

For a formal tone, use 'existe la posibilidad de que...' (there exists the possibility that...). For daily talk, simply ask '¿Hay alguna posibilidad?' (Is there any possibility?).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: posibilidad

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'posibilidad'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

posible(possible) - adjective

posiblemente(possibly) - adverb

imposible(impossible) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if 'posibilidad' is masculine or feminine?

It is feminine ('la posibilidad'). A great trick is that most Spanish nouns ending in -dad (like ciudad, universidad, verdad) are always feminine.

Is there a difference between 'posibilidad' and 'oportunidad'?

'Posibilidad' refers to whether something *can* happen (the likelihood). 'Oportunidad' refers to a favorable time or chance *to act* (the window of time or circumstance).