How to use the Greek word μήπως
Today I am going to explain to you how to use the Greek word μήπως. I know that it is a quite confusing word because it can be used in different ways and the hardest thing is that sometimes when we try to translate into English a Greek sentence, especially a question that begins with the word μήπως, in the English sentence there is not an equivalent word.
For example in Greek we say Μήπως έχεις αναπτήρα;, but in English we say “do you have a lighter?”
The word μήπως means “maybe”, this is why many Greek language learners use it instead of the word ίσως/maybe. For example, they say Μήπως θα επισκεφτώ την Ελλάδα φέτος. They want to say “maybe I will visit Greece this year”, but the sentence they use is wrong. In this case we have to use the word ίσως. In statements we use the word ίσως. We use the word μήπως only in questions in direct or indirect speech. Let’s see again the first example:
Μήπως έχεις αναπτήρα; it is a direct question. Obviously, if we say Έχεις αναπτήρα; the other person will answer yes or no and this is what we want to learn, but the word μήπως denotes the uncertainty.
Γιώργο, μήπως είσαι ακόμη στο σούπερ μάρκετ; Τελείωσε το γάλα. George, are you still at the super market? The milk is finished.
Μήπως προκαλούν παρενέργειες αυτά τα χάπια; do these pills have side effects?
Ίσως έρθω το βράδυ. Μήπως θέλεις να φέρω κάτι; maybe I will come at night. Do you want me to bring anything?
Let’s see some indirect questions.
Με ρώτησε μήπως έχω αναπτήρα. He asked me if I have a lighter. So, in indirect questions we can translate the word μήπως as “if”. In Greek too in the indirect questions we can replace the word μήπως with the word αν/if.
Έχεις ώρα; do you have the time? Mε ρώτησε μήπως έχω ώρα. He asked me if I have the time.
But the word μήπως is not only used to ask a question directly or indirectly. It can also be used in expressions of fear after a verb that means “to be afraid”, “to be worry”. Let’s see the most often used verbs. Φοβάμαι: to be afraid, ανησυχώ: to be worry, αγωνιώ: to be anxious
After one of these verbs the word μήπως means “lest”.
Φοβήθηκα μήπως σου έχει συμβεί κάτι. I was afraid lest something have happened to you.
Ανησυχώ μήπως χαθούμε. I am worrying of getting lost.
Αγωνιώ μήπως δε φτάσουμε στην ώρα μας. I am anxious that perhaps we will not arrive on time.
