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"Maybe" is an adverb which is often translated as "tal vez", and "maybe not" is a phrase which is often translated as "tal vez no". Learn more about the difference between "maybe" and "maybe not" below.
maybe(
mey
-
bi
)An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or other adverbs (e.g., to run quickly, very tired).
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
I'm not sure if I can go yet. - Shall I put you down as a maybe then?No estoy segura todavía de si podré ir. - ¿Te pongo entonces como quizá?
Is that a yes then? - No, it's a maybe.¿Entonces tu respuesta es que sí? - No, más bien diría que tal vez.
maybe not(
mey
-
bi
nat
)A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
1. (general)
a. tal vez no
Maybe I should call my ex... then again, maybe not.Tal vez debería llamar a mi ex... por otro lado, tal vez no.
b. quizás no
Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but one day I'll be famous.Quizás no hoy, quizás no mañana, pero algún día seré famosa.
c. puede que no
Gabriela may see her mistakes and come around, but maybe not right away.Puede que Gabriela se de cuenta de sus errores y se deje convencer, pero puede que no sea de inmediato.
