μήπως

Tentative Questions and Concerns

Level 5Sounds Like mḗpōs

Μήπως can introduce a tentative question, an indirect question or a feared possibility.

How It Works

Μήπως can introduce a tentative question, an indirect question or a feared possibility.

Its meaning depends on the governing expression: μήπως θέλεις... can soften a suggestion, while φοβάμαι μήπως... expresses concern. It does not automatically make the following proposition negative.

GreekMeaning
Μήπως θέλεις νερό;Would you perhaps like some water?
Αναρωτιέμαι μήπως άργησα.I wonder whether I was late.
Φοβάμαι μήπως πέσει.I am afraid that it might fall.

Examples (3)

  1. Μήπως θέλεις νερό;

    Would you perhaps like some water?

  2. Αναρωτιέμαι μήπως άργησα.

    I wonder whether I was late.

  3. Φοβάμαι μήπως πέσει.

    I am afraid that it might fall.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

μήπωςLevel 5Tentative Questions and Concerns

Learn This First

Recognize an embedded question before reading the tentative or concerned interpretation introduced by μήπως.

Words in This Pattern

μήπως