ممکن

What it means

ممکن (momken) means possible, and by extension maybe or perhaps when used as a modal. It is borrowed from Arabic مُمْكِن (mumkin), the active participle of the root م-ك-ن (m-k-n), which carries the sense of something being feasible or within reach. Persian uses it in two registers. In formal and written speech, ممکن است (momken ast) functions as a sentence opener meaning it is possible that or maybe. In everyday spoken Persian, the verb is swallowed and speakers say ممکنه (momkene), the colloquial contracted form. The word is not conjugated on its own; it always pairs with a verb phrase.

How to use it

• ممکنه فردا بیاد (momkene fardâ biâd) “Maybe he’ll come tomorrow.”
• ممکن است باران ببارد (momken ast bârân bebârad) “It is possible that it will rain.” (formal/written)
• ممکنه این رو داشته باشی؟ (momkene in ro dâshte bâshi?) “Could you have this?”
• ممکن نیست (momken nist) “That’s not possible.”

Cultural note

In Iranian conversational style, ممکنه is one of the softest ways to make a request or express uncertainty without committing. Speakers often prefer it over a direct question because Persian interaction tends to leave room for the other person to decline gracefully. You will hear ممکنه یه لحظه صبر کنی؟ (momkene ye lahze sabr koni?) as a polite way to ask someone to wait, where a blunt command would feel abrupt.

References

• Dehkhoda
• Vajehyab