efallai / falle / ella
Maybe: Efallai (Falle, Ella)
Efallai means "maybe" or "perhaps". In speech you will often hear falle, especially in the South, and ella in the North.
How It Works
Three forms, one meaning:
- efallai — standard, used everywhere and in writing
- falle (or efalle) — everyday speech, especially in the South
- ella — everyday Northern speech
Maybe something is (or was) true: efallai + a bod clause, because efallai works like "it may be that". See bod + that-clause.
- Falle bod e'n sâl — Maybe he's ill (South)
- Falle bod e wedi anghofio — Maybe he's forgotten (South)
- In careful Welsh with a pronoun: Efallai ei bod hi'n brysur — Perhaps she's busy. See fy mod i ei fod e.
Maybe something will happen: efallai + the future. Efallai bydd hi'n braf yfory, Ella bydd hi'n bwrw glaw (North). Formal writing adds y: Efallai y bydd hi'n braf; see y + future that-clause.
On its own or with a phrase: Efallai. (Maybe.), Efallai yfory (Maybe tomorrow).
Falle and ella are both everyday speech, not mistakes; see North and South Welsh. To wonder about something, see tybed.
Examples (6)
- Efallai bydd hi'n braf yfory.
Maybe it'll be fine tomorrow.
Efallai + the future of bod.
- Falle bod e'n sâl.
Maybe he's ill.
Falle (especially in the South), followed by a bod clause.
- Ella bydd hi'n bwrw glaw.
Maybe it'll rain.
North: ella.
- Efallai ei bod hi'n brysur.
Perhaps she's busy.
Careful Welsh uses ei bod hi.
- Falle bod e wedi anghofio.
Maybe he's forgotten.
Falle, especially Southern. Bod + wedi for "has done".
- Wyt ti'n dod heno? Efallai.
Are you coming tonight? Maybe.
Efallai can stand alone.
Common Mistakes
Following efallai with mae.
Efallai mae hi'n sâl.Efallai bod hi'n sâl.Efallai means "it may be that", so for the present it takes a bod clause, not mae.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Efallai typically opens a future statement.
Related Patterns
- bod 'that' ClauseThat-Clauses with Bod
Efallai is followed by a bod clause.
Level 3 - fy mod i / ei fod eThat I Am, That He Is: Fy Mod I
Efallai ei bod hi: the careful pronoun forms.
Level 4 - y + Future 'that' ClauseThat-Clauses with Y: Y Bydd
Formal efallai y bydd.
Level 4 - North and South Welsh
Falle is especially Southern; ella is Northern.
Level 1 - tybedI Wonder: Tybed
Tybed: I wonder.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice efallai / falle / ella in Bubblegum
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