может быть

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Russian

Alternative forms

Etymology

From мо́жет (móžet, “(it) may”) + быть (bytʹ, “to be”); hence literally, and directly cognate with, English may be, through Proto-Indo-European *megʰ- + *bʰuH-.

Pronunciation

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Adverb

мо́жет быть • (móžet bytʹ)

  1. (hedge) maybe, perhaps, possibly
    Я, мо́жет быть, приду́ сего́дня по́здно.
    Ja, móžet bytʹ, pridú sevódnja pózdno.
    I may come late tonight.
    (literally, “I, maybe, will come late tonight.”)
    Ну, мо́жет быть, и так.
    Nu, móžet bytʹ, i tak.
    Well, perhaps so.
    Мо́жет быть, ты, наконе́ц, доде́лаешь свою́ рабо́ту?
    Móžet bytʹ, ty, nakonéc, dodélaješʹ svojú rabótu?
    Are you going to finish your work at last?
    Мо́жет быть, а мо́жет и не быть.
    Móžet bytʹ, a móžet i ne bytʹ.
    Perhaps it is so, perhaps not. OR It may be or may NOT be (a pun).

Abbreviations

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