maybe / perhaps
The plain adverb, usually opening the sentence. Invariable, and it never conjugates.
Poate vine mâine.
Maybe he will come tomorrow.
Poate da, poate nu.
Maybe yes, maybe no.
#103 · Adverb
poate
In Romanian, poate means “maybe / perhaps”. It’s the #103 most frequently used Romanian word. Below you’ll find how to use it, its forms, real example sentences, and common word pairings.
Meaning & Use
Poate is "maybe" — and it began life as the verb form "he can", which is why the two are spelled identically. Rank 103. As an adverb it is frozen, invariable, and sits at the front of the sentence: Poate vine, "Maybe he will come". Its reinforced version poate că is just as common, and se poate means "it is possible".
neutralmaybe that… (poate că)
The reinforced form, with no change of meaning — simply a fuller sentence.
Poate că are dreptate.
Maybe he is right.
it's possible / you may (se poate)
The impersonal reflexive. Se poate? at a door is the standard "May I come in?".
Se poate.
It's possible.
Se poate?
May I?
he/she can (the verb form)
The same spelling is the 3rd-singular present of a putea. The position in the sentence tells you which one you are reading.
Nu poate veni.
He can't come.
Forms you’ll actually hear
Ranked by how often each form shows up in spoken Romanian. The top form cover about 100% of everyday use — learn these first.
poate100%
Patterns
Invariable as an adverb, and it does not conjugate — Poate vine, Poate veniți, Poate am greșit all keep the same form whoever the subject is. It stands at the front of the clause it qualifies, and may be reinforced as poate că with no change of meaning.
Poate + clause
The plain "maybe", opening the sentence.
Poate are dreptate.
Maybe he is right.
poate că + clause
The same, with că added. Both are equally common.
Poate că e prea târziu.
Maybe it's too late.
se poate / nu se poate
Impersonal possibility, and the standard polite refusal.
Nu se poate așa.
You can't do it like that.
poate + conditional
Softens a suggestion twice over.
Poate ai vrea să vii.
Maybe you would like to come.
Examples
Poate ne vedem mâine.
Maybe we will see each other tomorrow.
poate - The adverb at the front of the sentence. It does not agree with anybody and never changes.
Poate că nu a auzit.
Maybe he didn't hear.
poate că - poate că introduces a whole clause. The meaning is the same as bare poate — the că is optional.
Se poate?
May I?
se poate - The impersonal form, said at a door or before taking something. Nu se poate is the refusal.
El nu poate veni.
He can't come.
poate - Here it is the verb, not the adverb — the subject el and the following infinitive give it away.
Poate ar trebui să sunăm.
Maybe we should call.
poate - Softening a suggestion. ar trebui, the conditional, is already tentative; poate softens it further.
Poate is two words in one spelling. At the start of a sentence with a full clause after it, it is "maybe": Poate vine. With a subject and an infinitive after it, it is the verb "can": El poate veni. Romanians read the difference from the position, and so can you.
In expressions
Common phrases built around poate — worth learning as whole units.
poate că— maybe, perhaps
lit. “can that”