A hand tossing a shiny gold coin into the air to illustrate the concept of chance and likelihood.

probabilidad

pro-bah-bee-lee-DAHD

nounfB1

probability?the extent to which something is likely to happen

Also:likelihood?general chance of something,chance?possibility of an outcome

📝 In Action

Hay una alta probabilidad de lluvia esta tarde.

There is a high probability of rain this afternoon.

No veo ninguna probabilidad de éxito en este plan.

I don't see any chance of success in this plan.

Existe la probabilidad de que el examen sea difícil.

There is a likelihood that the exam will be difficult.

Word Connections

Synonyms

posibilidad (possibility)
factibilidad (feasibility)

Antonyms

imposibilidad (impossibility)
certeza (certainty)

Common Collocations

alta probabilidad – high probability
poca probabilidad – low probability
teoría de la probabilidad – probability theory

💡 Grammar Points

Always Feminine

Spanish nouns ending in -dad are almost always feminine. Use 'la' or 'una' with this word.

Using 'que'

When you follow this word with 'de que' and a verb, the second verb usually changes its form to show uncertainty (this is the 'subjunctive' form), like in: 'la probabilidad de que venga' (the probability that he comes).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Gender Error

Mistake: "el probabilidad"

Correction: la probabilidad (because nouns ending in -dad are feminine).

⭐ Usage Tips

Measuring Likelihood

Use 'alta' (high) or 'baja' (low) to describe probabilities, just like in English.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: probabilidad

Question 1 of 2

Which article is correct for 'probabilidad'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

probable(probable/likely) - adjective

probablemente(probably) - adverb

probar(to try/test/prove) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'probabilidad' and 'posibilidad' the same thing?

Not exactly. 'Posibilidad' means something *can* happen (even if unlikely), while 'probabilidad' suggests a statistical or measured chance of it happening.

Do I need to change the verb after 'la probabilidad de que'?

Yes, usually. Because 'probability' implies uncertainty, the verb that follows 'de que' should be in the subjunctive form (the form used for doubt or wishes).