si
/si/Introduces a conditional clause, meaning 'if' in English.
Si tu as faim, mange quelque chose.
If you are hungry, eat something.
Used to express a condition that must be met for something to happen.
Used to introduce a hypothetical situation.
Si j'étais riche, je voyagerais partout.
If I were rich, I would travel everywhere.
Often used with the subjunctive mood in French.
Used to express a concession or contrast.
Il est petit, mais si fort!
He is small, but so strong!
In this context, 'si' means 'so' or 'very' and is used for emphasis.
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💡Pro Tip
Context Matters
The meaning of 'si' depends heavily on the context. Pay attention to the sentence structure to determine whether it means 'if' or 'so'.
⚡Gold Rule
Subjunctive with 'si'
When 'si' introduces a hypothetical condition, the verb in the main clause is often in the conditional tense, and the verb in the 'si' clause is in the imperfect subjunctive.
📖Word Origin
From Old French 'se' (if) and 'si' (so), derived from Latin 'si' (if).
📝Usage Notes
In French, 'si' can mean both 'if' and 'so' depending on context. It is essential to understand the sentence structure to determine the correct meaning.