если

Russian

Etymology

Borrowed from Old Ruthenian если, есьли, естли (esli, esʹli, estli) around XVI, from Old Polish jestli, jesli.

Pronunciation

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• IPA^(key): [ˈjes⁽ʲ⁾lʲɪ]

Conjunction

е́сли • (jésli)

1. if, in case

   Synonyms: е́жели (jéželi), ко́ли (kóli), коль (kolʹ), когда́ (kogdá)

   Я бы пошёл в кино́, е́сли бы у меня́ бы́ло вре́мя.

   Ja by pošól v kinó, jésli by u menjá býlo vrémja.

   I would have gone to the cinema if I had had time.

   а е́сли ― a jésli ― if ever

   е́сли и ― jésli i ― even if

   е́сли то́лько ― jésli tólʹko ― only if

Usage notes

In Russian, the conjunction е́сли (jésli) can only be used to express a condition or hypothetical situation, while the conjunction ли (li) is used to express the meaning of whether. This is different from English, where if can be used for both.

Related terms

• е́сли бы (jésli by)