A bright, sunny landscape featuring a green hill. A single, large, dark grey rain cloud is moving quickly into the sunny area, casting a noticeable shadow below, symbolizing a high probability of rain.

probablemente

/pro-bah-bleh-MEN-teh/

AdverbA2

probably?general likelihood

Also:likely?expressing probability

📝 In Action

Probablemente llueva mañana.

It will probably rain tomorrow.

Si llegamos tarde, probablemente no haya asientos.

If we arrive late, there probably won't be any seats.

Probablemente él ya sabe la verdad, pero no quiere decirla.

He probably already knows the truth, but he doesn't want to say it.

Aunque es difícil, probablemente lo consigamos si trabajamos juntos.

Although it's difficult, we'll probably achieve it if we work together.

Word Connections

Synonyms

posiblemente (possibly)
seguramente (surely, probably)
quizás (maybe, perhaps)
tal vez (maybe, perhaps)

Antonyms

seguro (for sure)
ciertamente (certainly)
definitivamente (definitely)

Common Collocations

muy probablemente – very probably, most likely
lo más probablemente – most probably

💡 Grammar Points

Where does it go in a sentence?

You have flexibility! 'Probablemente' can usually go at the beginning of a sentence, right before the verb, or even at the end. The most common spot is at the very beginning.

Choosing the Verb Form (A Key Skill!)

After 'probablemente', the verb can be in its normal form (indicative) or a special 'maybe' form (subjunctive). Use the normal form when you feel pretty sure, and the 'maybe' form when you're less certain. For example, 'Probablemente viene' (He's probably coming - I'm fairly sure) vs. 'Probablemente venga' (He'll probably come - but it's more of a guess).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Forgetting the 'Maybe' Verb Form

Mistake: "Using the normal verb form when you want to express more doubt."

Correction: To show you're less sure, switch to the special 'subjunctive' verb form. Instead of 'Probablemente es la mejor opción', try 'Probablemente sea la mejor opción' to sound more natural when expressing uncertainty.

⭐ Usage Tips

More Certain Than 'Maybe'

'Probablemente' usually implies a higher chance of something happening (say, 70-90% sure) compared to 'quizás' or 'tal vez', which feel more like a 50/50 possibility.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: probablemente

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence expresses the MOST uncertainty or doubt?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

probable(probable, likely) - adjective

probabilidad(probability, likelihood) - noun

probar(to prove, to try, to taste) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'probablemente', 'posiblemente', and 'seguramente'?

Think of them on a scale of certainty. 'Seguramente' is the most certain, often meaning 'surely' or a very strong 'probably'. 'Probablemente' is next, a standard 'probably' (you think it's likely). 'Posiblemente' is the least certain of the three, meaning 'possibly' (it could happen, but you're not leaning strongly either way).