Wahrscheinlichkeitsabschätzung

Wahrscheinlich... is a German expression that functions as a discourse marker indicating probability or hedging. The term is commonly used at the beginning or within a sentence and is often written with an ellipsis, which signals hesitation, tentativeness, or an unfinished thought.

Usage and function: As an adverbial modifier derived from the adjective wahrscheinlich, it softens assertions and signals that a statement is plausible but not certain. It is common in spoken language, interviews, journalism, and narrative prose when the writer or speaker wishes to mark that what follows is likely but not definitively known. Examples include "Wahrscheinlich hat er den Bus verpasst." or the clipped form "Wahrscheinlich..." used to indicate a pause before continuing or to invite the reader to anticipate the next point.

In literature and media, Wahrscheinlich... can create suspense or reflect a character’s hesitation. In formal writing, the full clause is often preferred, but the fragment with ellipsis may appear in quoted speech or stylistic passages.

Etymology: The word derives from the German adjective wahrscheinlich, itself rooted in concepts of truth and appearance, with related terms such as wahr (true) and Schein (appearance). The sense of likelihood emerges from this combination, even as historical developments vary across contexts.

See also: probability, hedging, discourse marker.