How to pronounce maybe
Say it like MAY-bee. Maybe has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MAY).
- MAY
- bee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Maybe pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- beeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of maybe
American and British speakers say maybe in essentially the same way: /ˈmeɪbi/ in the US and /ˈmeɪbi/ in the UK.
British respelling: MAY-bee.
What does maybe mean?
- Perhaps, possibly.“A small extra effort now can maybe save you much work later.”
- Perhaps that is true (expressing no commitment to a decision or a neutral viewpoint to a statement).
- Certainly.“Maybe not the best idea.”
- Possible; uncertain.
- Something that is possibly true.
- An answer that shows neither agreement nor disagreement.“The results of the poll were inconclusive. We got two yeses, three nos, and four maybes.”
- A future event that may or may not happen.“About your raise: it's a big maybe.”
Where does maybe come from?
From an ellipsis of Middle English it may be, equivalent to may + be.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with maybe
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of maybe.
Questions about saying maybe
How do you pronounce maybe?
Say MAY-bee. The American pronunciation is /ˈmeɪbi/. In British English it is /ˈmeɪbi/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in maybe?
Maybe has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MAY). Broken into parts: MAY · bee.
Do Americans and Brits say maybe the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈmeɪbi/ and the British form is /ˈmeɪbi/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.