ihtimal

Ihtimal is a noun used in Turkish and Urdu to denote the possibility or probability that something will occur. In everyday language it conveys a general sense of likelihood or chance, rather than a precise statistical probability. In Turkish, ihtimal is often preferred over the term olasılık when speaking informally; olasılık is more common in mathematical or formal contexts. In Urdu, ihtimal (احتمال) serves a similar function and appears frequently in both spoken and written form.

Etymology: The word comes from Arabic ihtimāl (احتمال), meaning "the act of considering as possible" or "probability," and entered Turkish through Persian and contact with Arabic vocabulary. The Arabic root also appears in related languages such as Persian and Urdu with the same core meaning.

Usage and related terms: In Turkish, common related words include muhtemel (likely) and muhtemelen (probably). Phrases such as ihtimal dahilinde (within the realm of possibility) and ihtimal yüksek/az express relative levels of likelihood. In Urdu, phrases like "ihtimal hai" or "ihtimal hai ke" convey that something may happen or is likely.

See also: Probability, olasılık, muhtemel, ihtimal in Turkish and Arabic loanwords.