BAKASAKALI (Tagalog)

root words: baka (maybe) + sakali (in case)

bakasakali: by chance, perhaps, just in case, perchance

Wala siyang balak dumalo pero bakasakali sumipot… kaya nandito ako.
She has no plans of coming but she just might turn up… that’s why I’m here.

magbakasali
to take a chance

Alam kong walang pag-asa… Nagbabakasakali lang ako kaya nandito ako.
I know there’s no chance… I’m just hoping there might be; that’s why I’m here.

pagbabakasakali
taking a chance

Alam kong ikakasal na siya… bakasakaling magbago ang isip niya, pupuntahan ko siya.
I know she’s getting married… just in case she changes mind, I’ll go visit her.

Also spelled as baka sakali and baka-sakali.