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)

Used to introduce a suggestion or proposal for a future event.
What if we arrange it for 9:00 instead of 10:00?
Used to introduce a speculation about a future event.
What if we could learn to get along? What would happen then?
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

Derived terms

what-if

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
Portuguese: e se (with imperfect subjunctive or future subjunctive), que tal (with personal infinitive)
Spanish: y si
Swedish: tänk om

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

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