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si
/si/
if
Si tu viens, je serai heureux.
If you come, I will be happy.
formalinformal
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.
formalinformal
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.
formalinformal
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.
Collocations
Related Phrases
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.
Dictionnaire Français-Anglais