Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| е́сли | jésli | |
| е́жели | jéželi | |
| ко́ли | kóli | dated |
| ка́бы | káby |
The primary way to say 'if' in Russian is е́сли, which is the most common and straightforward method. For more formal situations, you can use the phrase В случае, если, which translates to 'in case' or 'if'. In colloquial speech, the phrase А если is often used to mean 'but what if' or 'what about if'.
Which one should you use?
While е́сли is the standard and most common way to say 'if' in modern Russian, е́жели is a slightly old-fashioned or more colloquial version. For a more poetic or dated effect, you might encounter ко́ли, though it is rarely used in everyday modern speech. To express a conditional 'if' in modern Russian, such as 'If I were rich', the particle бы is typically added to the conjunction, resulting in если бы.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
е́сли is the neutral, standard form. е́жели is more colloquial or slightly old-fashioned, while ко́ли is a dated form. For formal writing or speech, use В случае, если.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The particle ка́бы is used specifically to express a hypothetical or counterfactual condition, often translated as 'if only' or 'if it were the case'.
How do you pronounce it?
jésli
Did you know?
- In many Russian conditional sentences, the word 'if' is omitted entirely if the context is clear, relying instead on the verb tense and the particle бы.
- The word ка́бы often carries a heavy emotional weight of regret or longing, functioning more like 'if only' than a simple logical condition.
- The formal phrase В случае, если is often criticized by linguistic purists as a pleonasm because it repeats the meaning of 'if' twice.
Examples in context
- Если ты придешь вечером, мы пойдем в кино.If you come in the evening, we will go to the cinema.
- В случае, если вы задержитесь, пожалуйста, позвоните мне.In case you are delayed, please call me.
- Если ты не забудешь, купи молоко.If you don't forget, buy some milk.
- А если мы прогуляемся до парка?But what if we take a walk to the park?
Example conversation
Sergey and Maria are planning a walk in the park.
- Сергей SergeyМария, пойдём гулять в парк?Mariya, poydom gulyat v park?Maria, shall we go for a walk in the park?
- Мария MariaЯ пойду, е́сли будет хорошая погода.Ya poydu, esli budet khoroshaya pogoda.I will go if the weather is good.
- Сергей SergeyСейчас светит солнце, так что всё в порядке.Seychas svetit solntse, tak chto vsyo v poryadke.The sun is shining now, so everything is fine.
- Мария MariaТогда я готова, пошли!Togda ya gotova, poshli!Then I am ready, let's go!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “if” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
