There are several ways to express possibility and probability in Finnish.
Ehkä is maybe, perhaps.
Kai is probably.
Kai is also used in the of course meaning in slightly irritated expressions. You can also use kai when you hear something positively or negatively amazing.
Varmaan also means probably. In more official Finnish, use luultavasti.
Varmaan is actually kind of weird. In a negative sentence, it can be used the same way as varmasti, for sure. I'd say that the meaning depends on the tone of voice, just like in Chinese! :)
Then the verbs. Taitaa and saattaa are almost the same. I'd say that taitaa is used when something seems or looks like something, and saattaa expresses the probability.
Taitaa (taidan, taisin, tainnut)
Saattaa(saatan, saatoin, saattanut)
Ehkä is maybe, perhaps.
Kai is probably.
- Niin kai. - I guess so.
- Meillä on kai ruotsin sanakoe huomenna. - I suppose we have a Swedish vocabulary quiz tomorrow.
Kai is also used in the of course meaning in slightly irritated expressions. You can also use kai when you hear something positively or negatively amazing.
Varmaan also means probably. In more official Finnish, use luultavasti.
- Mun pitäisi varmaan opiskella. - I should probably study.
- Niin varmaan - I guess so.
- Hän on luultavasti oikeassa. - He's probably right.
Varmaan is actually kind of weird. In a negative sentence, it can be used the same way as varmasti, for sure. I'd say that the meaning depends on the tone of voice, just like in Chinese! :)
- Tuutko sä uimaan? - En mä varmaan tuu. - I probably won't come.
- Tuutko sä uimaan? - En VARmaan tuu! - Absolutely not!
Then the verbs. Taitaa and saattaa are almost the same. I'd say that taitaa is used when something seems or looks like something, and saattaa expresses the probability.
Taitaa (taidan, taisin, tainnut)
- Mä taidan nyt lähteä. - I guess I'll be going now.
- Tämä taitaa olla rikki. - This seems to be broken.
- Mä taisin unohtaa kahvinkeittimenpäälle. - I think I left the coffee maker on.
- Sä taidat olla oikeassa. - I guess you're right.
Saattaa(saatan, saatoin, saattanut)
- Se saattaa tulla myöhässä. - He might come late.
- Tämä saattaa olla väärin. - This might be wrong.
- Mä saatan olla väärässä. - I might be wrong.