Vermutlichich

Vermutlichich is a neo-lexeme in the German language, described as a hedged, self-referential stance expressed in a single word. It is used to signal that the speaker attributes a proposition to themselves in a tentative or uncertain way, blending the adverb vermut-lich (probably or presumably) with a first-person marker in a compact form. The term is not widely established in standard dictionaries and appears mainly in informal, online discourse.

Etymology and formation: The coinage arises from creative play with German morphology and rhetoric. It combines vermut-lich with a self-referential impulse, effectively turning a statement about likelihood into a self-attribution. Because it is not codified in major linguistic references, its exact spelling, pronunciation, and acceptability vary among speakers. It reflects broader trends in contemporary German of experimenting with hedging and speaker-oriented nuance in casual registers.

Usage and examples: Vermutlichich tends to appear in casual communication, such as social media posts, forums, or playful writing, where speakers explore self-posed hedges. Examples illustrating the idea (not standard usage): “Vermutlichich habe mich geirrt.” “Vermutlichich bin heute nicht in der Verfassung, das zu beurteilen.” The form is unconventional; in standard German one would typically say “Ich vermute, dass …” or “Ich vermute, ich bin …” depending on the intended meaning.

Reception: The term remains niche and largely anecdotal, with limited adoption outside exploratory or humorous contexts. Linguists view it as an example of creative self-referential hedging rather than a widely accepted lexical entry. It may appear in discussions of language play, internet linguistics, or contemporary German usage.

See also: vermut-lich, hedging in language, self-reference in linguistics.