whether

whether
['weðə(r)] [AE 'hweðər]
congiunzione
1) (if) se

I wasn't sure whether to answer or not o whether or not to answer non sapevo se rispondere o no; I wonder whether it's true mi chiedo se sia vero; the question is whether anyone is interested il problema è capire se c'è qualcuno interessato; he was worried about whether to invite her — si chiedeva se era il caso di invitarla

2) (no matter if)

you're going to school whether you like it or not! — a scuola ci vai, che ti piaccia o no!

whether or not you are happy is of little importance — se sei contento o no ha poca importanza

he needs an adult whether it be a parent or teacher — ha bisogno di un adulto, non importa se è un genitore o un insegnante

••
Note:
When whether is used to mean if, it is translated by se: I wonder whether she got my letter = mi chiedo se ha (or: abbia) ricevuto la mia lettera. See 1 in the entry below. - Although if can also be used, whether often occurs after verbs such as doubt, know, see and wonder, with adjectives such as doubtful and sure, and with nouns like doubt and question. You can find further examples at these entries. - In whether...or not sentences, whether is translated by che and the verb that follows is in the subjunctive: whether you agree or not = che tu sia d'accordo o no, whether you like it or not = che ti piaccia o no; note, however, that whether + infinitive is translated by se + infinitive in Italian: I have to decide whether or not to accept his proposal = devo decidere se accettare la sua proposta o no. See 2 in the entry below
* * *
['weðə]
conjunction
(if: I don't know whether it's possible.) se
* * *
['weðə(r)] [AE 'hweðər]
congiunzione
1) (if) se

I wasn't sure whether to answer or not o whether or not to answer non sapevo se rispondere o no; I wonder whether it's true mi chiedo se sia vero; the question is whether anyone is interested il problema è capire se c'è qualcuno interessato; he was worried about whether to invite her — si chiedeva se era il caso di invitarla

2) (no matter if)

you're going to school whether you like it or not! — a scuola ci vai, che ti piaccia o no!

whether or not you are happy is of little importance — se sei contento o no ha poca importanza

he needs an adult whether it be a parent or teacher — ha bisogno di un adulto, non importa se è un genitore o un insegnante

••
Note:
When whether is used to mean if, it is translated by se: I wonder whether she got my letter = mi chiedo se ha (or: abbia) ricevuto la mia lettera. See 1 in the entry below. - Although if can also be used, whether often occurs after verbs such as doubt, know, see and wonder, with adjectives such as doubtful and sure, and with nouns like doubt and question. You can find further examples at these entries. - In whether...or not sentences, whether is translated by che and the verb that follows is in the subjunctive: whether you agree or not = che tu sia d'accordo o no, whether you like it or not = che ti piaccia o no; note, however, that whether + infinitive is translated by se + infinitive in Italian: I have to decide whether or not to accept his proposal = devo decidere se accettare la sua proposta o no. See 2 in the entry below

English-Italian dictionary. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • whether — 1. For the choice between if and whether, see if 2. 2. When the alternative to the whether clause is a simple negative, this can take several forms, but whether or not is now more usual than whether or no: • I brooded all the way whether or not I …   Modern English usage

  • Whether — Wheth er, conj. In case; if; used to introduce the first or two or more alternative clauses, the other or others being connected by or, or by or whether. When the second of two alternatives is the simple negative of the first it is sometimes only …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Whether or no — Whether Wheth er, conj. In case; if; used to introduce the first or two or more alternative clauses, the other or others being connected by or, or by or whether. When the second of two alternatives is the simple negative of the first it is… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • whether — [hweth′ər, weth′ər] conj. [ME < OE hwæther (akin to Ger weder, neither) < IE * kwotero , which (of two) < base * kwo , who (> WHAT) + compar. suffix] 1. if it be the case or fact that: used to introduce an indirect question [ask… …   English World dictionary

  • Whether — Wheth er, pron. [OE. whether, AS. hw[ae]?er; akin to OS. hwe?ar, OFries. hweder, OHG. hwedar, wedar, G. weder, conj., neither, Icel. hv[=a]rr whether, Goth. hwa?ar, Lith. katras, L. uter, Gr. ?, ?, Skr. katara, from the interrogatively pronoun,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • whether\ ---\ or — • whether or • whether or whether 1. coord. conj. Used to introduce an indirect question. You must decide whether you should go or stay. I don t know whether Jack or Bill is a better player. Compare: either or 2. Used to show a choice of things,… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • whether — O.E. hwæðer, hweðer which of two, whether, from P.Gmc. *khwatharaz (Cf. O.S. hwedar, O.N. hvarr, Goth. huaþar, O.H.G. hwedar which of the two, Ger. weder neither ), from interrogative base *khwa who (see WHO (Cf …   Etymology dictionary

  • whether — ► CONJUNCTION 1) expressing a doubt or choice between alternatives. 2) expressing an enquiry or investigation. 3) indicating that a statement applies whichever of the alternatives mentioned is the case. USAGE Whether and if are more or less… …   English terms dictionary

  • whether */*/*/ — UK [ˈweðə(r)] / US [ˈweðər] / US [ˈhweðər] conjunction Collocations: Both whether and if can be used to introduce indirect questions of the type that expect a yes/no answer: She asked if/whether I liked jazz. Use whether, but not if, before an… …   English dictionary

  • whether — conjunction 1 used when talking about a choice you have to make or about two different possibilities: He asked me whether she was coming. | The decision whether to see her was mine alone. | whether or not: I coudn t decide whether or not to go to …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • whether — wheth|er [ weðər, hweðər ] conjunction *** 1. ) used when someone does not know which of two possibilities is true: They asked us whether we were married. There is some doubt as to whether the illness is infectious. whether...or: She doesn t even …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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