Using the Spanish indicative with a lo mejor/lo mismo (LatAm)

Learn about a lo mejor/lo mismo in Spanish

The adverbs: a lo mejor and lo mismo (which can be translated as "maybe"), are always used with the Modo indicativo, even though they are expressing doubt. These are used very often and more colloquially than quizá/quizás/tal vez. See Using the subjunctive or the indicative after tal vez and quizás to express doubt in Spanish to learn about these.

Here are some examples:

A lo mejor vamos a Mallorca este verano.We may go to Mallorca this summer.

Pedro y Carmen se miran mucho y se sonrojan. Lo mismo se gustan.Pedro and Carmen look at each other a lot and blush. Maybe they like each other.

A lo mejor me apunto a esas clases de francés.I may sign up for those French lessons.

Juan no ha llegado todavía. Lo mismo se ha quedado dormido.Juan hasn't arrived yet. Maybe he overslept.

A lo mejor and lo mismo are interchangeable and equally colloquial. 

Bear in mind these are invariable - they act as adverbs and they don't need to agree with any other element in the sentence. 

Here are some other examples:

Nadie responde..., lo mismo el restaurante ha cerrado.Nobody is answering..., maybe the restaurant closed down.

Lo mismo coincidimos con Miguel y Carlos en el concierto. Dijeron que a lo mejor iban.We may meet Miguel and Carlos at the concert. They said they might go.

No sé cómo lo saben mis padres. Lo mismo mi hermano se chivó.I don't know how my parents know. Maybe my brother snitched on me.

A lo mejor me compro ese vestido que vi ayer.I may buy that dress I saw yesterday.

Estoy muy estresada. A lo mejor pido un día libre en el trabajo.I'm very stressed. Maybe I'll ask for a day off work.

See also Using definite articles + mismo to say "the same" in Spanish

Want to make sure your Spanish sounds confident? We’ll map your knowledge and give you free lessons to focus on your gaps and mistakes. Start your Brainmap today »

Learn more about these related Spanish grammar topics

Examples and resources

A lo mejor vamos a Mallorca este verano.We may go to Mallorca this summer.
Lo mismo coincidimos con Miguel y Carlos en el concierto. Dijeron que a lo mejor iban.We may meet Miguel and Carlos at the concert. They said they might go.
Nadie responde..., lo mismo el restaurante ha cerrado.Nobody is answering..., maybe the restaurant closed down.
Pedro y Carmen se miran mucho y se sonrojan. Lo mismo se gustan.Pedro and Carmen look at each other a lot and blush. Maybe they like each other.
A lo mejor me compro ese vestido que vi ayer.I may buy that dress I saw yesterday.
Juan no ha llegado todavía. Lo mismo se ha quedado dormido.Juan hasn't arrived yet. Maybe he overslept.
A lo mejor me apunto a esas clases de francés.I may sign up for those French lessons.
Estoy muy estresada. A lo mejor pido un día libre en el trabajo.I'm very stressed. Maybe I'll ask for a day off work.
No sé cómo lo saben mis padres. Lo mismo mi hermano se chivó.I don't know how my parents know. Maybe my brother snitched on me.
Thinking...