what if

See also: what-if

English

Etymology

Dates back at least to Old English hwæt ġif, of the same meaning.

Adverb

what if (not comparable)

1. Used to introduce a suggestion or proposal for a future event.

   What if we arrange it for 9:00 instead of 10:00?

2. Used to introduce a speculation about a future event.

   What if we could learn to get along? What would happen then?

3. Used to introduce a speculation about a past event. Often the basis for counterfactual historical interpretations.

   What if Abraham Lincoln had not been assassinated? How might the Reconstruction of the Southern States have been handled?

Synonyms

• (introducing a suggestion): what about, how about

Derived terms

• what-if

Related terms

• what now

 

Translations

used to introduce suggestion

• Czech: co takhle
• Finnish: mitä jos, entä jos
• French: et si
• German: was wenn
• Greek: και αν (el) (kai an)
• Norwegian: hva om
• Old English: hwæt ġif
• Polish: a jeśli
• Portuguese: e se (with imperfect subjunctive or future subjunctive), que tal (with personal infinitive)
• Spanish: y si
• Swedish: tänk om
• Turkish: peki ya

used to introduce speculation about future

• Czech: co kdyby
• Finnish: mitä jos, entä jos
• French: et si
• Greek: και αν (el) (kai an)
• Hungarian: mi lenne, ha
• Norwegian: hva om
• Old English: hwæt ġif
• Portuguese: e se
• Swedish: tänk om

used to introduce speculation about past

• Czech: co když, co kdyby
• Finnish: mitä jos, entä jos
• French: et si
• Greek: και αν (el) (kai an)
• Old English: hwæt ġif
• Swedish: tänk om