belki

Belki is a Turkish adverb meaning perhaps or maybe. It is used to express possibility or uncertainty about a statement, situation, or expectation. As a common particle in Turkish, belki can modify verbs, adjectives, or entire clauses, and it frequently appears in both spoken and written language.

In terms of grammar, belki can be placed at the beginning of a sentence or within it. It is often used with de for emphasis, as in belki de, meaning perhaps as well or perhaps indeed. It can be used with negation to soften a claim, as in belki gelmez (perhaps he won’t come), or in affirmative forms to hedge assertions, as in belki yarın yağmur yağar (perhaps it will rain tomorrow).

Belki is typically translated as maybe or perhaps in English, but it carries a nuanced sense of uncertainty rather than a definite probability. It can express a mild hypothesis, a tentative plan, or a polite reservation. In usage, belki coexists with other modal words such as muhtemelen (probably) and olabilir (it may be). While belki is common in everyday speech, more formal contexts may favor these alternatives or constructions that indicate probability more explicitly.

Overall, belki functions as a versatile, low-commitment hedge in Turkish, allowing speakers to indicate doubt, tentative expectation, or openness to multiple outcomes without asserting certainty.