what if

what if

See also: what-if

English

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): how about

Translations

used to introduce suggestion

Czech: co takhle Finnish: mitä jos, entä jos French: et si

Norwegian: hva om Portuguese: e se (with imperfect subjunctive or future subjunctive), que tal (with personal infinitive) Swedish: tänk om

used to introduce speculation about future

Czech: co kdyby Finnish: mitä jos, entä jos French: et si Hungarian: mi lenne, ha

Norwegian: hva om 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 Swedish: tänk om