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My dictionary translates 'magari' as 'maybe'. However, I know that it can be used as interjection to mean something like "I wish!". My question is, when it's used in a sentence like this:
Magari ci vediamo stasera
Is does this mean "maybe we'll see each other tonight" or does it mean "hopefully we'll see each other tonight"? Or is it somewhere between 'maybe' and 'hopefully'?
It means I wish when it is used as exclamation.
A: Vuoi che ti accompagni?
B: Magari!
It has that meaning in a sentence using the subjunctive mood too.
Magari potessi venire anche io al concerto!
Magari fosse vero che sono fidanzato con Veronica!
Magari non fosse venuta alla festa! Mi ha fatto litigare con la mia ragazza, che se ne è andata prima che potessi darle il regalo.
When used with the Simple Present and the Simple Past, it normally means maybe, possibly.
Magari non sapeva niente.
Magari non è stato avvisato in tempo.
Magari è solo in ritardo.
Notice that you could read Magari non c'ero! instead of Magari non ci fossi stato, but in both the cases it means "I wish I was not there." As in English, the subjunctive mood is often replaced from the indicative mood, at least colloquially.
In that case, the difference is made from the intonation.
;-)
Wow, what an overloaded word! It has six different meanings or usages I can find.
As an adverb it may mean maybe (cf. “forse”)
A: Ci vediamo?
B: Magari sì.
but it can also mean even (cf. “persino”)
A: Ci vediamo?
B: Vengo assolutamente, magari a piedi!
As a conjunction it can similarly mean even if (cf. “persino se”)
Lo aspetterò, magari dovessi restare qui tutta la notte.
or, if only (cf. “se solamente”)
Eravamo soli, magari fossi venuto!
As an interjection it can either mean I can only wish…, but also I really want to! depending on context and/or emphasis.
The word comes from the Greek μακάρι (makári), which is derived from μακάριος (makários), according to etimo.it and it can be loosely translated as “God(s) willing!”
It can mean both as you correctly say and it is open to interpretation, it's hard to answer your question out of a specific context. This phenomenon happens in other languages as well. Just know that it does have a double meaning and try to understand what's being said given your specific context.
