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если. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
если, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
если in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
если you have here. The definition of the word
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если, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Eastern Mari
Etymology
Borrowed from Russian е́сли (jésli).
Pronunciation
Conjunction
если • (jesĺi)
- Synonym of гын (gyn)
если толат, ойлем- jesĺi tolat, ojĺem
- if you come, I'll tell you
References
- J. Bradley et al. (2023) “если”, in The Mari Web Project: Mari-English Dictionary, University of Vienna
Russian
Etymology
Borrowed from Old Ruthenian если, есьли, естли (esli, esʹli, estli) around XVI, from Old Polish jestli, jesli. By surface analysis, есть (jestʹ) + ли (li).
Pronunciation
Conjunction
е́сли • (jésli)
- if, in case
- Synonyms: е́жели (jéželi), ко́ли (kóli), коль (kolʹ), когда́ (kogdá)
- 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
Descendants
- → Eastern Mari: если (jesĺi)
References
- ^ Šanskij, N. M. (2004) “если”, in Školʹnyj etimologičeskij slovarʹ russkovo jazyka [School Etymological Dictionary of the Russian Language] (in Russian), Moscow: Drofa
- ^ Viktor Vinogradov ((Can we date this quote?)) “если”, in История слов