si
“si” means “if” in Spanish. It has 4 different meanings depending on context:
if
Also: whether
📝 In Action
Si llueve, no salimos.
A1If it rains, we don't go out.
Llámame si necesitas algo.
A1Call me if you need something.
No sé si vendrá a la fiesta.
A2I don't know if/whether he will come to the party.
Si tuviera más dinero, viajaría por el mundo.
B1If I had more money, I would travel the world.
yes
📝 In Action
—¿Quieres café? —Sí, por favor.
A1—Do you want coffee? —Yes, please.
Creo que sí.
A2I think so.
Ella dijo que sí vendría.
B1She said that yes, she would come.
himself, herself, itself, yourself (formal), themselves, yourselves (formal)
📝 In Action
Lo guardó para sí mismo.
B1He kept it for himself.
Hablan de sí mismos todo el tiempo.
B1They talk about themselves all the time.
Estaba muy contenta de sí misma.
B2She was very happy with herself.
Volvió en sí después del desmayo.
B2He came to / regained consciousness after fainting.
B
📝 In Action
La melodía termina en un si bemol.
B2The melody ends on a B flat.
El coro necesita cantar un si más alto.
C1The choir needs to sing a higher B.
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Quick Quiz: si
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence correctly uses 'si' to mean 'if'?
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📚 Etymology▼
The word 'si' has multiple origins from Latin. The conditional 'si' (if) comes from the Latin word `si`. The adverb 'sí' (yes) comes from Latin `sic`, meaning 'thus' or 'so'. The pronoun 'sí' (himself/herself) comes from Latin `sibi`, meaning 'for oneself'. The musical note 'si' was named later, using the initials of 'Sancte Iohannes' from a hymn.
First recorded: Before the 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most important difference between 'si' and 'sí'?
The accent mark! It's tiny but completely changes the meaning. No accent ('si') means 'if' and is used for conditions. With an accent ('sí') it means 'yes' or refers back to a person (like 'himself' or 'herself').
Can 'si' ever mean 'yes' in French? Is it the same in Spanish?
Yes, in French, 'si' can mean 'yes' in response to a negative question. However, this rule does NOT apply to Spanish. In Spanish, 'sí' (with an accent) is always the word for 'yes', and 'si' (no accent) is always 'if'.
Why do I see 'a sí mismo' sometimes? What does the 'a' do?
The little word 'a' is often required before 'sí mismo' when it's the target of an action. Think of 'a' as a little arrow pointing the action at someone. For example, 'Se ve a sí mismo en el espejo' (He sees himself in the mirror). The 'a' points the 'seeing' action at 'himself'.