sivssí
/SEE/
/SEE/
💡 Quick Rule
No accent for 'if', accent for 'yes'.
Think of the accent mark as a head nodding 'yes'.
- 'Sí' can also be a pronoun meaning 'himself/herself', like in 'lo guardó para sí' (he kept it for himself).
📊 Comparison Table
| Context | si | sí | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Answering a Question | Pregúntale si quiere venir. | —¿Quieres venir? —Sí. | 'Si' is used to ask *if* someone wants to. 'Sí' is the direct answer, 'yes'. |
| Making a Statement | Si terminas, puedes irte. | ¡Por fin sí terminaste! | 'Si' introduces a condition ('if you finish'). 'Sí' adds emphasis to confirm that you *did* finish. |
| Expressing Doubt vs Certainty | No estoy seguro si es la respuesta. | ¡Sí, esa es la respuesta! | 'Si' introduces the doubt ('if it's the answer'). 'Sí' confirms the certainty ('Yes, that's the answer!'). |
✅ When to Use "si" / sí
si
If (introduces a condition or possibility)
/SEE/
Introducing a condition
Si llueve, me quedo en casa.
If it rains, I'm staying home.
Expressing 'whether'
No sé si vendrá a la fiesta.
I don't know if/whether he will come to the party.
Making a suggestion
¿Y si pedimos pizza?
What if we order pizza?
sí
Yes (an affirmation) or a pronoun (himself, herself, etc.)
/SEE/
Answering 'yes'
¿Quieres café? — Sí, por favor.
Do you want coffee? — Yes, please.
Emphasizing a statement
Creía que no podías, pero sí puedes.
I thought you couldn't, but you *can*.
Reflexive pronoun (after a preposition)
Solo piensa en sí mismo.
He only thinks about himself.
🔄 Contrast Examples
With "si":
Dime si vienes.
Tell me if you are coming.
With "sí":
Dime que sí vienes.
Tell me that you *are* coming. (Tell me yes!)
The Difference: 'Si' is a neutral request for information. 'Sí' is asking for confirmation or reassurance, implying you really want them to come.
With "si":
Si lo sabe, no lo dice.
If he knows it, he's not saying.
With "sí":
Él sí lo sabe, pero no lo dice.
He *does* know it, but he's not saying.
The Difference: 'Si' sets up a hypothetical condition. 'Sí' confirms a fact emphatically, often contrasting it with another part of the sentence.
🎨 Visual Comparison
Split-screen graphic showing si (a forked path with a question mark) vs sí (a nodding head with a checkmark).
'Si' (no accent) is for 'if'—a choice or a question. 'Sí' (with an accent) is for 'yes'—a confirmation.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
Si, me gusta mucho.
Sí, me gusta mucho.
When you mean 'yes' to agree or affirm something, you must use the accent mark. 'Si' without an accent means 'if'.
Me preguntó sí quería ir.
Me preguntó si quería ir.
When reporting a yes/no question (he asked me *if* I wanted to go), use 'si' with no accent.
📚 Related Grammar
Want to understand the grammar behind this pair? Explore these lessons for a deep dive:
🏷️ Key Words
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: Si vs Sí
Question 1 of 2
Choose the correct word: '___ tienes frío, ponte una chaqueta.'
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Do 'si' and 'sí' sound different when spoken?
No, they sound exactly the same. The only difference is the written accent mark (la tilde), which is why it's so important to learn when to use it to avoid confusion in writing.
Is this accent rule common in Spanish?
Yes, very! Spanish uses accents on single-syllable words to distinguish between pairs that sound the same but have different meanings. Other examples include 'tu' (your) vs. 'tú' (you), and 'el' (the) vs. 'él' (he).