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magari

maybe

adverb mah-GAH-ree Less Common
Communication Responses

Origin: from Greek 'makarios' (blessed)

Also means

if only

Usage Note

Magari is a hugely useful word with two faces: alone it is an enthusiastic 'I wish!' or 'if only!', while inside a sentence it softens to 'maybe' or 'perhaps'. With the subjunctive it expresses a strong wish, as in magari fosse vero! ('if only it were true!').

Examples

"Magari domani vengo anch'io."

Natural Translation

Maybe I'll come too tomorrow.

Literal Translation

Maybe tomorrow I-come also-I.

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