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How to Say "possible" in Spanish

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posible

po-SEE-blehpoˈsi.βle

AdjectiveA1General
Use this for general situations where something can happen or be done, indicating feasibility or opportunity.
A cheerful small child wearing bright red boots easily stepping across a narrow, shallow blue stream from one grassy bank to the other, symbolizing an achievable action.

Examples

¿Es posible llegar antes de las cinco?

Is it possible to arrive before five?

Busco una solución posible al problema.

I'm looking for a possible solution to the problem.

No es posible que él no sepa la verdad.

It's not possible that he doesn't know the truth.

One Form for Masculine and Feminine

Good news! Posible doesn't change for gender. It's un plan posible (a possible plan) and una idea posible (a possible idea). It just adds an 's' for plural things: planes posibles, ideas posibles.

The 'Es posible que...' Trigger

When you say Es posible que... (It's possible that...), you're talking about uncertainty. This often triggers a special verb form called the subjunctive. For example: Es posible que llueva (It's possible that it will rain), not Es posible que llueve.

Using 'posible' for people's abilities

Mistake: “No es posible para mí ir a la fiesta.”

Correction: No puedo ir a la fiesta. To say you 'can' or 'can't' do something, it's more natural to use the verb `poder` (to be able). Use `posible` for situations or events.

capaz

ka-paskaˈpas

AdjectiveB2General
Use this when 'possible' implies a likelihood or probability of something happening, often with a sense of 'maybe' or 'likely'.
A cheerful outdoor scene with a picnic blanket and bright sun, but a single, large, dark grey rain cloud is drifting into the frame, suggesting the possibility of rain.

Examples

Capaz que llueve más tarde.

Maybe it will rain later.

Es capaz de haberlo olvidado ya.

It's possible he's already forgotten it.

¿Vienes a la fiesta? —Capaz.

Are you coming to the party? —Maybe.

Using 'Capaz que' for 'Maybe'

In many parts of Latin America, people say 'Capaz que...' to mean 'Maybe...' or 'It's possible that...'. It's a very common and natural-sounding phrase in conversation.

Using it Alone

Mistake: “Yo capaz voy a la fiesta.”

Correction: **Capaz que** voy a la fiesta. When used to mean 'maybe' at the start of a sentence, it's almost always followed by 'que' to sound natural.

potencial

poh-ten-SYALpo.tenˈsjal

AdjectiveB1General
Use this to describe a possible outcome or result that exists now but may or may not happen in the future.
A simple illustration of a small brown seed resting in dark earth, with a faint green outline indicating the plant that will grow from it.

Examples

Existe un riesgo potencial de inundación en la zona baja.

There is a potential risk of flooding in the low area.

Necesitamos identificar a los clientes potenciales.

We need to identify the potential clients.

Always Ends in -al

The adjective 'potencial' is special because it works for both masculine and feminine nouns, and it always ends in '-al' (e.g., el riesgo potencial, la amenaza potencial).

Don't Change the Ending for Gender

Mistake: “La amenaza potenciala.”

Correction: La amenaza potencial. (The ending does not change to match the feminine noun.)

eventual

eh-ben-too-ahlebenˈtual

AdjectiveC1General
Use this when 'possible' refers to something that might happen in the future, often implying a need for preparation.
A person standing at a fork in a forest path, looking at two different trails leading into the trees.

Examples

Debemos prepararnos para un eventual retraso del vuelo.

We must prepare for a possible flight delay.

El plan cubre cualquier eventual pérdida de datos.

The plan covers any potential loss of data.

Estamos listos para una eventual emergencia.

We are ready for a possible emergency.

Used Before the Noun

When 'eventual' means 'possible' or 'potential' in a formal way, it often comes before the noun (e.g., 'una eventual crisis').

General vs. Specific Possibility

Learners often default to 'posible' for all meanings of 'possible.' Remember that 'capaz' indicates likelihood, 'potencial' describes a future risk or outcome, and 'eventual' refers to a future contingency. Use these more specific terms when appropriate to sound more natural.

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