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a lo mejor. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
a lo mejor, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
a lo mejor in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
a lo mejor you have here. The definition of the word
a lo mejor will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
a lo mejor, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Spanish
Etymology
Maybe from "en el mejor de los casos": in the best case.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /a lo meˈxoɾ/
- Syllabification: a lo me‧jor
Adverb
a lo mejor
- (idiomatic) maybe, perhaps
- Synonyms: quizá, quizás, tal vez
Usage notes
- If a lo mejor is used with a clause, the verb in that clause is used almost exclusively in the indicative form:
- A lo mejor Álex no sabe hablar inglés. ― Maybe Alex doesn't know how to speak English.
- Nos falta la leche a lo mejor. ― We are out of milk, possibly.
- The use of the subjunctive mood in these verbs, while rare, is also considered valid, but only when the verb comes after a lo mejor in the sentence. (Thus, in the above examples, A lo mejor Álex no sepa hablar inglés is valid, but *Nos falte la leche a lo mejor is not.)
- By contrast, the synonyms of a lo mejor, such as quizás or tal vez, usually do trigger the use of the subjunctive mood (see quizás).
See also
Further reading