peutêtre

Peut-être is a French adverb meaning perhaps or maybe. It is used to express possibility, doubt, or uncertainty about something. The standard spelling is with a hyphen: peut-être.

Etymology and function: The form is a contraction of the verb pouvoir (peut) and the verb être (être). As an adverb of modality, peut-être qualifies a statement or a proposition, indicating that it is not certain. It can introduce a clause directly or be placed before the main clause for emphasis.

Usage and placement: Peut-être qu’il va pleuvoir demain is a typical use, where peut-être introduces a subordinate clause with que. The related, equally common construction Il va peut-être arriver ce soir places the adverb at the beginning of the sentence. It can also precede an entire sentence to hedge a claim, as in Peut-être faut-il reconsidérer la situation.

Orthography and style notes: The hyphenated form peut-être is the standard in modern French. The two-word form peut être is considered incorrect in standard French, though it may appear in informal writing or in pedagogical contexts to reflect pronunciation or teaching material.

See also: The English equivalent may be rendered as perhaps or maybe; other French modals of possibility include peut-être bien, which adds a stronger degree of uncertainty.

In sum, peut-être is a core adverb for expressing possibility and uncertainty, versatile in position within a sentence and widely used in both spoken and written French.