probablement

Probablement is a French adverb meaning probably or likely. It is formed from the adjective probable plus the suffix -ment, and it serves to hedge statements by indicating that something is more plausible than certain. It is widely used in both spoken and written French across formal and informal registers.

Usage and placement: In most simple tenses, probable goes after the conjugated verb: Il arrivera probablement demain. In compound tenses, it typically follows the auxiliary: Ils sont probablement en retard. It can also begin a sentence for emphasis: Probablement, il arrivera demain. While common, its position can vary for emphasis or style, but the standard placement after the verb is most widely heard.

Nuances and related terms: Probablement expresses a higher degree of likelihood than peut-être (perhaps), and a lower degree of certainty than certainly or sans doute (no doubt). Synonyms and near-synonyms include vraisemblablement and sans doute, while peut-être remains a softer, more tentative option. As an adjective, probable exists in the feminine and plural forms (probable, probables), but probablment is specifically the adverb form.

Examples: Probablement, il arrivera demain. Il arrivera probablement demain. Ils sont probablement en retard. C’est probablement une erreur.

See also: The word is closely related to its cognate looks in other Romance languages, such as probablement in French and probable in the sense of likelihood; its use is a standard tool for expressing probability without committing to certainty.