There are words in Spanish which change their meaning simply when you use a written accent. Let's look at Sí vs Si.
Spanish "sí" with an accent
1. An adverb that expresses affirmation. This usage is usually translated as yes.
Spanish "si" without an accent
1. Si as a conjunction that introduces conditional sentences. This usage is usually translated as if.
2. Si as a conjunction in indirect questions. This usage is usually translated as whether.
Bear in mind that, although these are the most common translations for Sí and Si, they could also refer to:
- "yes" as a noun meaning "approval", e.g "Ella le dio el sí en el altar" (She gave him the yes/her approval/her assent at the altar.)
- the musical note B, the seventh in the scale, i.e "Do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si, do"
- the emphatic reflexive pronoun "sí", e.g. "María se critica mucho a sí misma" (María criticizes hersef a lot.)
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