How to Say "if" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “if” is “si” — use 'si' when introducing a hypothetical or real condition that must be met for something else to happen..
si
/see//si/
Examples
Si llueve, no salimos.
If it rains, we don't go out.
Llámame si necesitas algo.
Call me if you need something.
No sé si vendrá a la fiesta.
I don't know if/whether he will come to the party.
Setting Up 'If... Then...' Sentences
'Si' is your go-to word for setting up a condition. The first part of the sentence starts with 'si' (the 'if' part), and the second part is the result (the 'then' part).
The Missing Accent Mark
Mistake: “To say 'Yes, I want to go,' a learner might write: 'Si, quiero ir.'”
Correction: The correct way is 'Sí, quiero ir.' The word for 'if' has no accent mark, but the word for 'yes' MUST have one. They sound the same but are different words.
cuando
/KWAN-doh//ˈkwando/
Examples
Yo cocino cuando llego a casa.
I cook when I get home.
Cuando era niño, vivía en México.
When I was a child, I lived in Mexico.
Llámame cuando llegues, por favor.
Call me when you arrive, please.
Connecting Two Ideas in Time
'Cuando' acts like a time-bridge, linking one action to another. For example, 'I was reading' (first action) + 'the phone rang' (second action) becomes 'Yo leía cuando sonó el teléfono'.
A Special Verb Form for the Future
When talking about a future event with 'cuando', the verb that follows often changes its ending. Instead of 'cuando llegas' (when you arrive), you'll say 'cuando llegues'. This special form is called the subjunctive.
Using the Wrong Verb Form for Future Actions
Mistake: “Te llamaré cuando llego al aeropuerto.”
Correction: Te llamaré cuando llegue al aeropuerto. After 'cuando', if the main action is in the future ('I will call you'), Spanish uses a special verb form for the second action ('I arrive').
Confusing 'si' and 'cuando'
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.