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

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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

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['weðə]

conjunction

(if: I don't know whether it's possible.) se

- whether ... or

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['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