valószínleg

Valószínleg is a Hungarian adverb meaning probably or likely. It expresses the speaker’s assessment of probability about a statement or event and is common in both neutral and formal prose.

The word is formed from the adjective valószínű, meaning likely or probable, with the adverbial suffix -leg. Valószínleg typically precedes the main clause or verb in a sentence and can be used at the beginning of a sentence for emphasis. It hedges a claim in a cautious way, suitable for reporting, analysis, or everyday statements.

In terms of nuance, valószínleg indicates a higher degree of likelihood than talán, while stopping short of certainty. It implies that the speaker finds the proposition plausible based on available information, but not guaranteed. It is common in journalism, technical writing, and conversational Hungarian when a measured forecast or conclusion is warranted.

Examples:

Valószínleg megérkezik ma este. (He will probably arrive this evening.)

Valószínleg befejezik a munkát a hónap végére. (They will probably finish the work by the end of the month.)

Valószínleg az időjárás miatt eltolódik a meccs. (The game will probably be postponed due to the weather.)

Etymology and related terms:

Valószínleg is closely related to valószínű, from which its adverbial form is derived. Related terms include valószínűleg (the standard adverb in most contexts), talán (perhaps), and biztosan (certainly). In contrast, nyilvánvalóan or kétségtelenül convey stronger certainty.

See also: valószínű, talán, biztosan, nyilvánvalóan.