A high-quality storybook illustration showing a cheerful small rabbit standing on a sunny hill, throwing a bright red ball towards a very wide, easy-to-hit blue hoop, symbolizing a likely or probable successful outcome.

probable

proh-BAH-bleh

Adjectivem/fB1

probable?likely to happen,likely?expected or anticipated

Also:plausible?seems reasonable or true

📝 In Action

Es probable que llueva esta tarde, mejor lleva paraguas.

It is probable that it will rain this afternoon, better take an umbrella.

La causa más probable del accidente fue la velocidad excesiva.

The most probable cause of the accident was excessive speed.

Los resultados probables de la elección se conocerán mañana.

The likely results of the election will be known tomorrow.

Word Connections

Synonyms

posible (possible)
factible (feasible)
cierto (certain (in some contexts))

Antonyms

improbable (improbable)
imposible (impossible)

Common Collocations

causa probable – probable cause
resultado probable – likely outcome

💡 Grammar Points

Use with Subjunctive

When you use the impersonal phrase 'Es probable que...' (It is likely that...), the next verb must be in the special 'subjunctive' form: 'Es probable que venga' (It is likely that he/she comes).

Gender Agreement

This adjective is one of the handy ones that is the same for both masculine and feminine nouns. It only changes when the noun is plural: 'el resultado probable' and 'la causa probable' become 'los resultados probables'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Forgetting Subjunctive

Mistake: "Es probable que *viene* mañana."

Correction: Es probable que *venga* mañana. (The likelihood introduces uncertainty, requiring the special verb form.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Adding Emphasis

You can strengthen the idea of probability by adding 'muy' (very) or 'altamente' (highly): 'Es muy probable que gane.'

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: probable

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'probable' and the required verb form?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

probabilidad(probability) - noun

probablemente(probably) - adverb

improbable(improbable) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'probable' change its ending for masculine and feminine nouns?

No, 'probable' is one of those adjectives that stays the same whether the noun is masculine (el resultado probable) or feminine (la causa probable). It only changes to 'probables' in the plural.

What is the difference between 'probable' and 'posible'?

'Posible' means something *can* happen (it's in the realm of possibility). 'Probable' means something is *likely* to happen (it has a higher chance based on evidence).