if en · CCONJ
Pronunciation
Etymology
From Middle English if, yif, yef, from Old English ġif (“if”), from Proto-West Germanic *jabu, *jabē, from Proto-Germanic *jabai (“when, if”). Cognate with Scots gif (“if, whether”), Saterland Frisian af, of (“if, whether”), West Frisian oft (“whether”), Dutch of (“or, whether, but”), Middle Low German ef, if, af, of ("if; whether"; > German Low German of), German ob (“if, whether”), Icelandic ef (“if”).
Meanings
-
Supposing that, assuming that, in the circumstances that; suppositive used to introduce a condition that may be (or prove to be) either true or false.
I'll come only if you do the driving.
If I give you the money, will you buy it for me?
I'll do it next week if I have time.
Fetch me a cold beer if there's one in the fridge.
If you prefer, I can come tomorrow instead.
-
Supposing that, assuming that, in the circumstances that; suppositive used to introduce a condition that may be (or prove to be) either true or false. ▸ A keyword that invokes conditional processing: in the event that a given condition is true, execute the given statement(s) (otherwise execute other statements).
if A then B else C
-
Supposing that; used with past or past perfect subjunctive to indicate a counterfactual or hypothetical condition.
If she hadn't told me, I wouldn't know.
If I was rich, I'd live in a big house by the sea.
She could have used my car if the battery hadn't been flat.
-
(excessive, usually) Supposing that; used with past or past perfect subjunctive to indicate a counterfactual or hypothetical condition. ▸ Even if; even in the circumstances that.
You're finishing your chowder if you sit there all afternoon!
“Wait a minute!” said the girl: “I wouldn’t hurry by, if it was you that was coming out to be hung, the next time eight o’clock struck, Bill. I’d walk round and round the place till I dropped, if the snow was on the ground, and I hadn’t a shawl to cover me.”
1838, Boz [pseudonym; Charles Dickens], Oliver Twist; […], volume (please specify |volume=I, II, or III), London: Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC:If it’s the last thing I do / If it takes me from Tubilo to Timbuktu / If it’s the last thing I do / I’m gonna dodge every road block, speed trap, county cop / To get my hands on you / If it’s the last thing I do.
2004, David Lee Murphy and Kim Tribble (writers), Montgomery Gentry (singers), “If It’s The Last Thing I Do” (song), in You Do Your Thing (album)I wouldn't marry you if you were the last man on earth.
-
Considering the fact that; given that; introducing a condition that is known to be true.
The drain's blocked — and if the drain's blocked, the water won't flow.
O what of Gods then boots it to be borne, / If old Aveugles ſonnes ſo euill heare?
1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book I”, in The Faerie Queene. […], part I (books I–III), London: […] [Richard Field] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza ii, page 66:
-
When; whenever; every time that.
If you heat water to 100° C, it boils.
If it rains, it pours.
-
Although; used to introduce a concession; may..but.
She won her team's admiration, if not the award, for her performance.
Both Spear & Davis were indicted in the witchhunt surrounding the sensational (if nonexistent) "Revere sex ring."
1981 April 11, Mitzel, “Kopacz Acquitted In Barbre Killing”, in Gay Community News, page 1:He was a great friend, if a little stingy at the bar.
-
(proscribed, sometimes) Whether; used to introduce a noun clause, an indirect question, that functions as the direct object of certain verbs.
I don't know if I want to go or not.
Quoth Matthew, “ […] / She doubts if two and two make four, / […] ”
1715–1717, Matthew Prior, Alma; or, The Progress of the Mind, Canto IIIIt is doubtful if the Victorian Londoner needed any warning, for the artful mobsmen, toolers, whizzers and dippers, together with their stickman accomplices, were everywhere in the crowds, in the underground, on railway trains […]
1976, Michael Harrison, Beyond Baker Street: A Sherlockian Anthology, page 117:
-
Introducing a relevance conditional; in case.
If you want to go home, I have the car keys.
I have leftover cake if you want some.
-
(rare) While; used to introduce a contrast.
If the Balkan Wars of 1912–13 and World War I spelled the end of the Porte as an imperial power, its former Balkan possessions were the scene of the Yugoslav wars of 1991–2001, which coincided with the disintegration of the USSR.
2023, Serhii Plokhy, The Russo-Ukrainian War: The Return of History, page 1971:If the Americans knew how they wanted to use strategic air power but not what to attack, the British had a huge number of plans about what to attack but almost no means to adequately deliver the necessary blow.
2015, Phillips Payson O'Brien, How the War was Won: Air-Sea Power and Allied Victory in World War II, page 103:If the outcome of the land war on the Eastern Front is usually seen as decisive, historical views on the importance of the air war are mixed.
2015, Phillips Payson O'Brien, How the War was Won: Air-Sea Power and Allied Victory in World War II, page 8:If the Russians out-produced the Japanese in individual units, the Japanese out-produced the USSR in terms of technological quality.
2015, Phillips Payson O'Brien, How the War was Won: Air-Sea Power and Allied Victory in World War II, page 65:If the Poles resisted imperial rule, the Ukrainians threatened the unity of the “reunified” Catherinian empire by claiming an identity distinct from the Russian.
2023, Serhii Plokhy, The Russo-Ukrainian War: The Return of History, page 17:If his Russian was music, his English was murder.
1957 March 7, Vladimir Nabokov, chapter 3.3, in Pnin, Heinemann, page 66:If the collapse of the USSR was sudden and largely bloodless, growing strains between its two largest successors would develop into limited fighting in the Donbas in 2014 and then into all-out warfare in 2022, causing death, destruction, and a refugee crisis on a scale not seen in Europe since the Second World War.
2023, Serhii Plokhy, The Russo-Ukrainian War: The Return of History, page 1970:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| ifen | alternative | lexicographic | |
| if'n | alternative | lexicographic | |
| eef | alternative | lexicographic | |
| iffen | alternative | lexicographic |
Deriveds
huge if true · if only the tsar knew · if it's yellow let it mellow · if-bet · if needs be · if I say so myself · if I'm not mistaken · if so be · would lose one's head if it wasn't glued on · if I may make so bold · if ever there were one · as if nothing had happened · only if · if-then-else · if it's all the same · but if · if the shoe fits · and if · elif · if ever there were some · if only the czar knew · correct me if I'm wrong · as if there were no tomorrow · if I may be so bold · if I ever saw one · if it be so · if-then statement · if and when · if not for · if-by-whiskey · big if true · if you know you know · if not · one's damned if one does and one's damned if one doesn't · if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys · never ask the barber if you need a haircut · if money · as if by magic · if I care · if the cap fits · if a day · if there ever was one · iff · what-if · if and only if · if pigs had wings · if pigs had wings they would fly · look as if one has been dragged through a hedge backwards · if I do say so myself · as if there's no tomorrow · if push comes to shove · hell if I know · like as if · would lose one's head if it wasn't attached · if ever there has been one · if ever there was one · if so · claret would be port if it could · if I were you · if one is a day · as if one's life depended on it · if possible · if that's not · if memory serves · if at first you don't succeed · if anything · not if I see you first · if these walls could talk · you'd complain if you were hung with a new rope · damned if one does and damned if one doesn't · if the mountain won't come to Muhammad · if it had not been for · if I've ever seen one · if that · know if one is Arthur or Martha · if that don't beat all · nothing if not · I wouldn't piss on someone if they were on fire · as if someone owns the place · as-if rule · if you please · if only · if ever · look as if one has lost a shilling and found sixpence · nice work if you can get it · if you like · if I may · if it you please · as if there was no tomorrow · ifpology · if it isn't · if I may say so · if I might be so bold · if you say so · if there ever were one · an if · would lose one's head if it wasn't screwed on · if you ask me · fuck if I know · wouldn't shout if a shark bit him · if you don't mind me saying · as if there is no tomorrow · would lose one's head if it wasn't bolted on · don't mind if I do · if it's the last thing I do · if at all · hell if I care · if-then · as if one's life depends on it · if all else fails · if I had a nickel for every time · would lose one's head if it wasn't stuck on · would lose one's head if it weren't attached · if applicable · even if one's life depended on it · if that doesn't beat all · what if · if you will · if clause · even if · if it wasn't · if looks could kill · if nothing else · if truth be told · if need be · would lose one's head if it wasn't tied on · if you see what I mean · if it's not one thing it's another · if I'm honest · as if · if it kills one · if you know what I mean · look as if one had lost a shilling and found sixpence · if you lie with dogs you will get fleas · if-thenism · if it looks like a duck · you're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't · damned if I know · if it were not for · iffy · endif
Translations (357)
fr si (whether) · id kalau (whether) · eo se (supposing that) · nv ládą́ą́ʼ (whether) · my ရင် (supposing that) · ckb ئەگەر (supposing that) · ht si (supposing that) · es si (whether) · cmn 要是 (supposing that) · nan-hbl 檢采 /检采 (supposing that) · mk дали (whether) · mn -вал (supposing that) · io se (supposing that) · sv om (supposing that) · ln soki (supposing that) · ar لَوْ (supposing that) · sh ȁko (supposing that) · wuh -la (supposing that) · hu amennyiben (supposing that) · gd nan (supposing that) · id jika ((computing)) · ja かどうか (whether) · km បើ (supposing that) · sk aj keď (although; used to introduce a concession) · tr eğer (supposing that) · acw إن (supposing that) · el εάν (supposing that) · pam patie (supposing that) · sk či (whether) · pa ਜੇ (supposing that) · lv ja (supposing that) · ajp إن (supposing that) · kum эгер (supposing that) · mt jekk (supposing that) · nn kor vidt (whether) · wbk të (supposing that) · ru е́жели (supposing that) · si නං (supposing that) · an si (supposing that) · nb hvis (supposing that) · ngh ǃûu (supposing that) · sga má (supposing that) · ajp إنكنّـ (supposing that) · pt se (whether) · syc ܐܢ (supposing that) · kmr heke (supposing that) · pam -man (whether) · ga an (whether) · ru е́сли (supposing that) · nan-hbl 若 (supposing that) · da hvis (although; used to introduce a concession) · bi sapos (supposing that) · ug ئەگەر (supposing that) · mfe si (supposing that) · cmn 是否 (whether) · sco if (supposing that) · hi जो (supposing that) · pt caso (supposing that) · tk eger (supposing that) · br ma (supposing that) · arz إذا (whether) · fa که آیا (whether) · sk ak (supposing that) · grc ἐάν (supposing that) · ga má (supposing that) · cmn ...的话 (supposing that) · ja ...ならば (supposing that) · ja ...ては (supposing that) · gd ma (supposing that) · da om (supposing that) · ko 만약 (supposing that) · ary كُن كان (supposing that) · fr si (supposing that) · hi यदि (supposing that) · nb dersom (supposing that) · pam ...paman (supposing that) · grc εἰ (supposing that) · fi mikäli (supposing that) · dsb -li (supposing that) · nb om (whether) · ckt эвыръым (supposing that) · aho 𑜆𑜦𑜡 (supposing that) · si නම් (supposing that) · nb om (supposing that) · ky эгер (supposing that) · nn om (supposing that) · th ถ้า หาก (supposing that) · kmr eger (supposing that) · sh ȁko (supposing that) · rap ana (supposing that) · cmn 如 (supposing that) · bn কিনা (whether) · tr -sa (supposing that) · ms kira (supposing that) · nb hvorvidt (whether) · ka თუ (supposing that) · pam nung (whether) · uk коли́ (supposing that) · txb kwri (supposing that) · se jos (supposing that) · acw لو (supposing that) · te అయితే (supposing that) · de wenn ((computing)) · ary اِلى (whether) · ko -면 (supposing that) · ga dá (supposing that) · ast si (supposing that) · nap si (supposing that) · izh jos (supposing that) · pnb جے (supposing that) · cs pokud (supposing that) · pam ...naman (supposing that) · eo ĉu (whether) · ajp لو (supposing that) · da nærmest (supposing that) · cs zda (whether) · id apabila (supposing that) · el αν (supposing that) · he אִם (supposing that) · hu ha ((computing)) · zea as (supposing that) · mn болзол (supposing that) · nb når (supposing that) · fi -ko (whether) · mhr гын (supposing that) · frm si (supposing that) · ba әгәр ҙә (supposing that) · da dersom (supposing that) · sh da li (whether) · ml എങ്കിൽ (supposing that) · is ef (supposing that) · fr soit (whether) · nl als (supposing that) · de ob (whether) · kk егер (supposing that) · bsh to (supposing that) · ps که (supposing that) · bn যদিও (although; used to introduce a concession) · ru ка́бы (supposing that) · da om (whether) · pam istung (supposing that) · bg а́ко (supposing that) · fy oft (whether) · is hvort (whether) · tr varsayarsak (supposing that) · vi dù (although; used to introduce a concession) · tr değilse (although; used to introduce a concession) · ang ġif (supposing that) · pl jeżeli (supposing that) · tr ise (supposing that) · nb om enn (although; used to introduce a concession) · tg агар (supposing that) · bn কি না (whether) · su upami (whether) · ja か (whether) · vi nếu trường hợp (supposing that) · ps چې که (whether) · dng дан (supposing that) · ro dacă (supposing that) · ms jikalau (supposing that) · akk 𒋳𒈠 (supposing that) · hu még ha … is (although; used to introduce a concession) · sw kama (supposing that) · sw ikiwa (supposing that) · sv om (whether) · pt se (supposing that) · cy os (supposing that) · hu hogyha (supposing that) · hi कि (whether) · zea a (supposing that) · da hvis ((computing)) · fi jos ((computing)) · az əgər (supposing that) · arc אִין (supposing that) · vi thì (whether) · pt se ((computing)) · bn যদি (supposing that) · dng зэ (supposing that) · pl jeśli (supposing that) · dsb gaž (supposing that) · vi nếu (mà) (supposing that) · id jika (supposing that) · ja ...と (supposing that) · arz لو (supposing that) · fa اگر (supposing that) · pl czy (whether) · dng дансы (supposing that) · fy as (supposing that) · zza eke (diq) (supposing that) · oc se (supposing that) · yue 要是 (supposing that) · el άμα (supposing that) · jv manawa (supposing that) · hi अगर (supposing that) · dng вәё (supposing that) · grc ἤν (supposing that) · got 𐌾𐌰𐌱𐌰𐌹 (supposing that) · pam ka (whether) · got 𐌾𐌰𐌱𐌰𐌹 (whether) · cmn 當 /当 (supposing that) · yue 如果 (supposing that) · ur یدی (supposing that) · lt jeigu (supposing that) · sq nëse (supposing that) · yi טאָמער (supposing that) · fa چنانچه (supposing that) · hu (vajon) -e (whether) · ajp إذا (supposing that) · tt әгәр (supposing that) · fro se (supposing that) · lo ຄັນ (supposing that) · tr değil ise (although; used to introduce a concession) · khb ᦅᧃ (supposing that) · ms sama ada (whether) · vi hễ (mà) (supposing that) · mk ако (supposing that) · hu jóllehet (although; used to introduce a concession) · bpl -kaa (supposing that) · et kui (supposing that) · be калі́ (supposing that) · ms kalau (supposing that) · arc אֶן (supposing that) · arz إن (supposing that) · ja もし... (supposing that) · fr que (whether) · zza eger (supposing that) · rup disi (supposing that) · ta என்றால் (supposing that) · vo if (supposing that) · za danghnaeuz (supposing that) · ba әгәр (supposing that) · pl gdyby (supposing that) · nl as (supposing that) · nn i fall (supposing that) · pam ...taman (supposing that) · pam ya (whether) · da hvis (supposing that) · sh да ли (whether) · hu habár (although; used to introduce a concession) · ast si (whether) · tpi sapos (supposing that) · tr -se (supposing that) · id kalau (supposing that) · wa si (supposing that) · rm sche (supposing that) · nn dersom (supposing that) · cdo 儷是 /俪是 (supposing that) · vi mới (whether) · bqi ار (supposing that) · tdd ᥗᥪᥒᥴᥝᥣ (supposing that) · pam ... naman pa (supposing that) · da hvorvidt (whether) · nan-hbl 假使 (supposing that) · cmn 如果 (supposing that) · lo ຖ້າ (supposing that) · lt jei (supposing that) · mi mēnā (supposing that) · ckt эвыр (supposing that) · nn om enn (although; used to introduce a concession) · gl se (supposing that) · mk ако ((computing)) · ur اگر (supposing that) · my အကယ်၍ (supposing that) · hu ha … is (although; used to introduce a concession) · hy եթե (supposing that) · sco gin (supposing that) · ja ...だったら (supposing that) · acw إذا (supposing that) · pl tyle że (although; used to introduce a concession) · dsb joli (supposing that) · da snarere (supposing that) · blt ꪖ꫁ꪱꪫ꪿ꪱ (supposing that) · sah өскө (supposing that) · de wenn auch (although; used to introduce a concession) · da at (although; used to introduce a concession) · fro se (whether) · nv ládą́ą́ʼ (supposing that) · vi but see là (whether) · pl jeśli ((computing)) · yi אַז (supposing that) · hu ha (supposing that) · ru ко́ли (supposing that) · ms jika (supposing that) · aeb اِذَا (whether) · ja ...なら (supposing that) · mn -бал (supposing that) · ary كون كان (supposing that) · yi אויב (supposing that) · su upami (supposing that) · de falls (supposing that) · bo ན (supposing that) · ms sekiranya (supposing that) · ang ġif (whether) · sga dia (supposing that) · it se (whether) · hu bár (although; used to introduce a concession) · arz إذا (supposing that) · uk якщо́ (supposing that) · ca si (whether) · cy pe (supposing that) · fi vaikkakin (although; used to introduce a concession) · syc ܐܠܘ (supposing that) · arc אִלּוּ (supposing that) · uz agar (supposing that) · af as (supposing that) · my လျှင် (supposing that) · sk ak ((computing)) · grc ἄν (supposing that) · ms andai (supposing that) · dng зэсы (supposing that) · ca si (supposing that) · dsb gaby (supposing that) · pl jeżeli ((computing)) · nn såframt (supposing that) · ru ли (whether) · cv эхер (supposing that) · af indien (supposing that) · sl če (supposing that) · de wenn (supposing that) · ja ...えば (supposing that) · nl of (whether) · da om (although; used to introduce a concession) · swb djeli (supposing that) · aoz kalu (supposing that) · fy at (supposing that) · pam nung (supposing that) · ang hwæþer (whether) · hu noha (although; used to introduce a concession) · yua wa (supposing that) · txb inte (supposing that) · cs jestliže (supposing that) · ar إِذَا (supposing that) · nn om (whether) · ar إِنْ (supposing that) · ru е́сли ((computing)) · jv apa (whether) · ps که چېرې (supposing that) · nn viss (supposing that) · el ει (supposing that) · sa यदि (supposing that) · ary إلا (whether) · es aunque (although; used to introduce a concession) · my က (supposing that) · pl jak (supposing that) · aeb لَوْ كَانْ (supposing that) · sip གལ་སྲིད (supposing that) · it se (supposing that) · nb hvis ((computing)) · shn ပေႃး (supposing that) · es si (supposing that) · ia si (supposing that) · ckt эвыт (supposing that) · la si (supposing that) · arz اذا (supposing that) · fi jos (supposing that) · wa si (whether) · nl indien (supposing that)