Speak like a local: Se calhar

A friend asks if you want to go to the beach on Sunday. You are not sure yet. The weather looks shaky and you might have to work, but you would like to go if things line up. Instead of a firm yes or no, you say 'se calhar vou', which means you will probably go, but you are leaving room for it to fall through.

What it means

The literal meaning of 'se calhar' is close to 'if it happens to work out'. In everyday use it means maybe, or perhaps. Portuguese people use it all the time to soften a guess or a plan when they are not sure.

It is the natural spoken way to say maybe in Portugal, much more common in daily speech than the textbook word 'talvez'.

Who you can say it to

You can use this phrase with anyone in normal daily life. If a friend asks what you are doing later, you say 'se calhar fico em casa' to mean you will probably stay home, but you have not decided.

If a colleague asks whether the client will accept the offer, you can say it to show you think so without promising. It is relaxed and friendly, so it fits casual chat far better than formal writing.

Words it travels with

This phrase usually comes right before the verb it is guessing about. People say 'se calhar vou', 'se calhar fico', 'se calhar não vale a pena' (maybe it is not worth it).

It often teams up with 'não sei', as in 'não sei, se calhar', when you really have not decided. You will also hear it soften advice, as in 'se calhar era melhor ligares primeiro' (maybe it would be better to call first).

More ways to say maybe

If you want the standard, slightly more formal word for maybe, use this one. It fits writing and careful speech, for example saying perhaps the shop is closed today.

• 🤔 Talvez. (Maybe / perhaps.)

If you think something is fairly likely, reach for this. People use it when they lean towards yes but still want to leave a little doubt.

• ⚖️ Provavelmente. (Probably.)

If you want to say who knows, in a light, shrugging way, this one works. It suits moments when the answer really is out of your hands.

• 🙃 Sabe-se lá. (Who knows.)

When the answer is a sure yes, the word is 'claro'. When things are only so-so, it is 'mais ou menos'.

A detail most foreigners miss is that 'se calhar' does not need the subjunctive after it, while 'talvez' usually does. You can say 'se calhar vou' with a plain verb, but with 'talvez' you would say 'talvez vá', which changes the verb form. That is one reason 'se calhar' feels easier and comes out faster in real talk.

How 'talvez' and the subjunctive work together is in our lesson Talvez and fosse: expressing doubt in Portuguese.

Practice